Faissal El Bakhtaoui

Faissal El Bakhtaoui
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-11-08) 8 November 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Saint-Tropez,[1] France
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Guidonia Montecelio 1937
Number 10
Youth career
Racing Club de la Baie
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2016 Dunfermline Athletic 70 (31)
2016–2019 Dundee 58 (6)
2018–2019 → Dunfermline Athletic (loan) 27 (1)
2019–2020 Queen of the South 15 (1)
2020–2021 Difaâ El Jadidi 15 (0)
2021 Nocerina 15 (8)
2021–2022 Ħamrun Spartans 22 (5)
2022 Nuova Florida 12 (8)
2022–2023 Livorno 19 (2)
2023 Nocerina 9 (2)
2023–2024 Cynthialbalonga 16 (2)
2024– Guidonia Montecelio 1937 8 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 November 2024

Faissal El Bakhtaoui (born 8 November 1992) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for Italian side Guidonia Montecelio 1937, and has previously played for Dunfermline Athletic, Dundee, Queen of the South, Difaâ El Jadidi, ASD Nocerina 1910 (two spells), Ħamrun Spartans, A.S.D. Nuova Florida, Livorno and Cynthialbalonga.

Career

Dunfermline Athletic

Born in Saint-Tropez,[1] El Bakhtaoui started his career with French club Racing Club de la Baie.[2] In July 2012, Scottish First Division club Dunfermline Athletic signed El Bakhtaoui after he impressed then-manager Jim Jefferies in trial matches versus Berwick Rangers and Lochgelly.[2] His first season with The Pars resulted in him mainly working on his development, with only two appearances being made in the latter stages of the season.

With Dunfermline's financial difficulties causing many first team players to leave the club, El Bakhtaoui started to feature in more matches, mainly in the second half of the 2013–14 season, where he went on to score four goals in 18 matches; two of which were in Scottish Championship play-off matches versus Stranraer in May 2014.[3][4]

The 2014–15 season started even more brightly for El Bakhtaoui, having been included in the Pars team for most of the matches. In October and November 2014, he scored four goals in five league matches to help Dunfermline in their push for promotion to the Scottish Championship.

El Bakhtaoui's start to the 2015–16 season was even more impressive than the previous season, with the forward scoring four consecutive braces in the first four competitive matches of the season, scoring a further two against Scottish Premiership side Dundee in the Scottish League Cup.[5] After attracting interest from other teams, El Bakhtaoui was named Scottish League One Player of the Month for the month of August,[6] primarily for his achievement of scoring 12 goals in eight matches. El Bakhtaoui was once more given the player of the month award for March,[7] after his goals against Stenhousemuir and Ayr United, as well as his first career hat-trick in a 3–1 win over Brechin City,[8] helped seal the Scottish League One championship for the Pars.

With his contract due to expire at the end of May 2016, El Bakhtaoui once again started attracting interest from a number of top-tier teams, including Motherwell[9] and Dundee.[10] Although offered a new contract by the Pars, El Bakhtaoui announced in April 2016 that he was ready to move to a club in a higher league,[11] and with the relationship between him and manager Allan Johnston breaking down due to the latter allowing the player a 15-minute cameo in the final game of the season,[12] it appeared that El Bakhtaoui would be leaving the club at the end of his contract.

Dundee

In July 2016, El Bakhtaoui went on trial with English Championship club Blackburn Rovers, after former Dunfermline striker Owen Coyle had been impressed by his goalscoring record.[13] After his trial with Rovers ended, El Bakhtaoui signed a three-year deal with Scottish Premiership club Dundee on 2 August 2016.[14][15][16] El Bakhtaoui's first appearance for the Dark Blues arrived as a second-half substitute for Danny Williams in a 3–1 win versus Ross County in Dingwall.[17] El Bakhtaoui made a further appearance as a substitute versus Rangers at Dens Park,[18] before making his first start six days later in a 1–1 draw with Hamilton Academical.[19] El Bakhtaoui spent the season playing out wide or behind the striker and finished the season with 4 goals. One of which was a goal of the season contender in a 2–1 defeat versus Celtic receiving positive comments from Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

At the start of the 2017–18 season in the Dundee Derby in the second round of the Scottish League Cup, El Bakhtaoui scored his first goal of the season, a half volley from 25 yards to help Dundee to a 2–1 victory. In 2020, his goal was voted as Dundee's 'Goal of the Decade' by fans via Twitter.[20][21]

El Bakhtaoui returned to Dunfermline on 12 July 2018, signing a one-year loan deal with his former club.[22] His return to Dunfermline was met with much fanfare,[23] however, El Bakhtaoui's second spell with the club was far less successful than his first. On his second debut for the Pars he scored two goals in a 7–1 Scottish League Cup win versus Brechin City.[24] He scored one further goal, a penalty against Greenock Morton in December.[25] After returning to Dundee he was released at the end of the 2018–19 season, having scored just eight goals in 66 appearances for the Dee.[26]

Queen of the South

On 9 August 2019, El Bakhtaoui reunited with former Pars manager Allan Johnston, signing a one-year deal with Dumfries club Queen of the South.[27][28]

On 14 January 2020, Queen of the South announced El Bakhtaoui as moving to Morocco to sign with Difaâ El Jadidi for an undisclosed fee. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation were reported in the announcement as interested in capping El Bakhtoui for the Moroccan national team (with their defence of the African Nations Cup scheduled to be April 2020). To be selected for Morocco, El Bakhtaoui would be required to be signed for a club based in Morocco.[28][29]

Difaâ El Jadidi

Difaâ El Jadidi announced El Bakhtaoui's arrival at the club on 16 January 2020.[30]

A.S.D. Nocerina 1910

In February 2021, it was announced that Italian Serie D side A.S.D. Nocerina 1910 were undergoing the bureaucratic process to register El Bakhtaoui.[31] He officially signed on 5 March.[32] Just two days later, he would have a dream debut for I Molossi, scoring twice in a 3–0 win.[33]

Ħamrun Spartans

In July 2021, El Bakhtaoui was revealed to be in advanced talks with Maltese side Ħamrun Spartans, and would sign for them the following month.[34] El Bakhtaoui would record his first goal for the club in a league win against Gudja United.[35]

A.S.D. Nuova Florida

In June 2022, El Bakhtaoui returned to Italian football by signing with Serie D side A.S.D. Nuova Florida.[36]

U.S. Livorno 1915

After a brief but successful spell with Nuova Florida, El Bakhtaoui signed with fellow Serie D club U.S. Livorno 1915 in December 2022.[37]

A.S.D. Nocerina 1910 (second spell)

On 7 July 2023, El Bakhtaoui would return to former club Nocerina.[38]

S.S.D. Cynthialbalonga

In December 2023, El Bakhtaoui would move to fellow Serie D club SSD Cynthialbalonga.[39][40] He made his debut shortly after off the bench in a defeat to Cavese.[41]

Guidonia Montecelio 1937

Despite it appearing that El Bakhtaoui had joined Serie D club Avezzano Calcio,[42] it would actually be confirmed later that he had signed for fellow Italian club Guidonia Montecelio 1937, formerly known as Monterosi Tuscia.[43]

Career statistics

As of 24 November 2024[44]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dunfermline Athletic 2012–13[45] Scottish First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 2 0
2013–14[46] Scottish League One 14 2 1 0 0 0 5[b] 2 20 4
2014–15[47] 23 7 3 2 1 0 2[c] 0 29 9
2015–16[48] 32 22 3 1 3 4 3[c] 3 41 30
Total 70 31 7 3 4 4 11 5 92 43
Dundee 2016–17[49] Scottish Premiership 30 3 1 0 0 0 — 31 3
2017–18[50] 28 3 2 0 5 2 — 35 5
2018–19[51] 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 58 6 3 0 5 2 0 0 66 8
Dunfermline Athletic (loan) 2018–19[51] Scottish Championship 27 1 1 0 3 2 2 0 33 3
Queen of the South 2019–20[52] 15 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 16 1
Difaâ El Jadidi 2019–20 Botola 10 0 0 0 0 0 — 10 0
2020–21 5 0 0 0 0 0 — 5 0
Total 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
A.S.D. Nocerina 1910 2020–21 Serie D 15 8 0 0 0 0 1 0 16 8
Ħamrun Spartans 2021–22 Maltese Premier League 22 5 3 2 0 0 0 0 25 7
A.S.D. Nuova Florida 2022–23 Serie D 12 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 8
U.S. Livorno 1915 2022–23 Serie D 19 2 0 0 0 0 1[d] 1 20 3
A.S.D. Nocerina 1910 2023–24 Serie D 9 2 0 0 0 0 2[e] 1 11 3
S.S.D. Cynthialbalonga 2023–24 Serie D 16 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 2
Guidonia Montecelio 1937 2024–25 Serie D 8 1 0 0 0 0 2[e] 0 10 1
Career total 286 67 14 5 12 8 20 7 332 87
  1. ^ Appearance in the First Division play-offs
  2. ^ One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup; four appearances and two goals in the Championship play-offs
  3. ^ a b Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  4. ^ Appearance in the Serie D playoffs
  5. ^ a b Appearance(s) in the Coppa Italia Serie D

Honours

Club

Dunfermline Athletic

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "Player of the month awards". dafc.co.uk. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Manager on Tuesday". dafc.co.uk. Dunfermline Athletic FC. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Stranraer 2–1 Dunfermliney". SPFL. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Dunfermline 3–0 Stranraer". SPFL. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  5. ^ "Dunfermline's Faissal El Bakhtaoui hoping for tilt at Old Firm". Neil Robertson. The Courier. 27 August 2015. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  6. ^ a b "SPFL monthly awards". www.spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. Archived from the original on 31 May 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Dunfermline: Johnston and El Bakhtaoui win March awards". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 April 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  8. ^ a b McLaughlin, Brian (26 March 2016). "Dunfermline 3 – 1 Brechin City". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  9. ^ Sutherland, Jonathan (7 May 2016). "Motherwell make offer for Dunfermline striker Faissal EL Bakhtaoui". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  10. ^ Kennedy, Liam (20 May 2016). "Dunfermline's El Bakhtaoui on Dundee FC summer radar". Evening Telegraph. DC Thomson & Co Ltd. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  11. ^ Fisher, Stewart (22 April 2016). "Faissal El Bakhtouai: Dunfermline has been great for me but I feel ready to step up to a Premiership club". Herald Scotland. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  12. ^ Collin, Iain (2 May 2016). "Faissal El Bakhtaoui takes swipe at Dunfermline manager Allan Johnston over last-day snub". Capital City Press. Deadline News. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  13. ^ Wheelock, Paul (15 July 2016). "Blackburn Rovers take out-of-contract Dunfermline Athletic striker Faissal El Bakhtaoui on trial". Lancashire Telegraph. Newsquest. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  14. ^ "El Bakhtaoui Signs". dundeefc.co.uk. Dundee FC. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  15. ^ "Faissal El Bakhtaoui: Dundee sign striker on three-year deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  16. ^ Roache, Ian (2 August 2016). "Dundee move quickly to replace Kane Hemmings with ex-Dunfermline striker Faissal El Bakhtaoui". The Courier. DC Thomson Co Ltd. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
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  30. ^ www.dfjfoot.com 16 January 2020
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  34. ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (27 July 2021). "Ħamrun Spartans in advanced talks to sign attacking midfielder El Bakhtaoui". timesofmalta.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  35. ^ "Premier League: Dominant Spartans register much needed win - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
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  41. ^ "Foggia segna e la Cavese va in fuga, Cynthialbalonga ko. Gli aquilotti volano a +5". SalernoToday (in Italian). Retrieved 10 December 2023.
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