Said El Mala

Said El Mala is among the brightest talents of Germany’s gifted 2006 generation, & is already thriving in senior football despite his young years. Here is all you need to know about the Köln forward!

Said El Mala is among the brightest talents of Germany’s exceptionally gifted 2006 generation. However, unlike many of the other protagonists from this age group, the 18-year-old’s journey to senior football has been anything but straightforward, marked by challenges and setbacks along the way.

In 2021, El Mala was released from Borussia Mönchengladbach's youth academy, forcing him to continue his development at smaller setups like TSV Meerbusch (2021-2024) and later Viktoria Köln (2024-present). Despite this untraditional path, El Mala has nevertheless risen to a place of great prominence.

Shortly after turning 17, he made his professional debut in the 3. Liga for Viktoria Köln and has since amassed over 30 league appearances. This season, the 18-year-old has truly come into his own, starting 18 matches and contributing six goals and four assists. His impressive form has also caught the attention of Germany’s youth national teams, with El Mala starting every match of the U19 squad’s EURO qualification campaign so far.

Such a standout season will inevitably draw interest from clubs across Germany, but a move is off the table, as FC Köln actually signed El Mala in the summer for a reported €300,000 fee. The club immediately loaned him back to Viktoria Köln for the current 2024/25 campaign, allowing him to continue his development while staying in a familiar environment.

Injury History

No known injuries that should have an impact on his value or future potential.

Player Style

Said El Mala is an Inside Forward. He is a tall and strong athlete, who always tries to cut inside and enter the penalty area whenever possible to shoot or make quick combinations with his teammates. He is a relentless striker of the ball with the potential for high goal & assist output.

Player Model: Heung-Min Son

Strengths

Tall & Robust Frame

Said El Mala boasts an impressive athletic foundation, making him well-suited for early senior-level adaptation. Standing at 1.87m, he is exceptionally tall for a traditional winger, and unlike many young players of his stature, El Mala does not appear clunky or uncoordinated in his movements. He knows how to use his body to shield play & provide physical resistance against senior opposition.

Dynamism & Explosiveness

What sets El Mala apart is the remarkable explosiveness and dynamism he possesses. Despite his commanding frame, El Mala exhibits exceptional fluidity and agility, effortlessly implementing sharp directional changes and high-impact tempo shifts.

Goal-Orientation

A defining feature of El Mala's game is his goal-oriented approach. Rather than indulging in superfluous dribbling, he adopts a direct and purposeful approach, channeling all his actions toward the central areas of the pitch. This mindset is equally reflected in his positioning and off-ball movement. El Mala consistently positions himself to receive the ball in half-spaces or makes penetrating runs behind the opposition backline, intelligently curving his movements toward goal rather than drifting into less threatening wide areas.

Relentless Mentality

El Mala possesses a rare mental resilience, remaining unfazed by mistakes or missed opportunities and quickly refocusing on the next play with unwavering confidence. He consistently takes the initiative, embraces responsibility, and creates goal-scoring opportunities, undeterred by past failures. El Mala's desire to make a game-changing impact is evident in every moment he’s on the pitch.

His unconventional path, away from the comforts and privileges of a top-tier European academy, has also likely instilled an additional layer of grit and determination in him.

Isolated 1v1 Duels

Though El Mala thrives primarily in open spaces, the young German also possesses the technical skills to excel in isolated 1v1 situations. He showcases a unique ability to outmaneuver opponents with sharp feints and explosive ball shifts. Although his output in these moments is not yet prolific or consistent, his raw talent is undeniable.

Commitment to Defensive Passages

El Mala demonstrates a strong commitment to his defensive responsibilities. He applies front-footed pressure to win the ball high up the pitch, but also consistently tracks back with long recovery runs, supporting his fullback and helping to prevent the opposition from creating dangerous 2v1 situations.

Quick & Instinctive Finishing

El Mala wastes no time and rarely overcomplicates his play when entering goal-scoring positions. He acts decisively, instantly putting opposition goalkeepers under pressure with minimal delay between receiving the ball and executing his shot.

⭐ Open Space Ball Carrying

Said El Mala combines his elite physical toolbox with his strong technique to provide an impressive impact as an open-space ball carrier. In counter-attacking scenarios, El Mala is superb at engaging space and deliberately driving play towards the goal. Importantly, there is also often a tangible end product to El Mala’s carries, with the youngster regularly managing shots or key passes after driving play upfield.

Weaknesses

Off-Ball Timing

The timing of El Mala’s off-ball movement can be slightly off, as he frequently makes runs too early. This eagerness to exploit attacking space often leads him into offside positions.

Tight-Space Manipulation

El Mala often relies on large stride lengths and expansive touches to carry play forward, which don’t always suit the sharp, precise play required in congested areas. El Mala also frequently struggles with his first touch, failing to bring the ball under control effectively and often allowing it to bounce out of his reach.

Precision & Weight of Passing

El Mala’s passing game leaves room for improvement in several crucial areas. The young forward often struggles with the precision and weight required for intricate through balls or decisive creative passes in the final third. His approach can feel rushed at times, frequently applying excessive power or forcing overly ambitious one-touch passes that lack the necessary finesse. This tendency is particularly evident during transitional moments, where he often displays a lack of care and precision.

⭐Technique-Based Finishing

El Mala gets into a lot of finishing positions, but he lacks the clinical nature to always capitalize. He remains somewhat one-dimensional as a finisher, often favoring a right-footed, driven finish. He could benefit from expanding his repertoire to become more unpredictable and ruthless in these critical moments.

Recently, however, El Mala has shown promising signs of development in this area. His recent performances highlighted how he is actively working to address this weakness in his game.

GRADING

Current Ability

A club/level of club where the player has the qualities to play at least 70% of available minutes right now.

4/10 - A Starting Player for a Solid Second Bundesliga Outfit

• FC Nürnberg

• SC Paderborn

• SV Elversberg

Potential Ability

A club/level of club where the player has the qualities to play at least 70% of available minutes at his career peak.

7.5/10 - A Club With Outside Ambitions for European Competition

• Eintracht Frankfurt

• Lazio Rome

• West Ham

Likelihood To Reach Peak Ability

High. I firmly believe in El Mala's ability to develop and reach his full potential. He possesses no glaring physical or technical weaknesses that would hinder his adaptation to senior-level competition. His goal-oriented approach, coupled with a strong focus on delivering immediate scoring impact, positions him well to make meaningful progress at a higher level.

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Said El Mala is a very promising talent who embodies the quality and untapped potential that is regularly found outside the major football academies in German football. He has seamlessly adapted to senior football, emerging as a formidable prospect with an impressive scoring record, outstanding physical attributes, and excellent ball-carrying ability.

While there is room for improvement in his finishing technique and the finer details of his passing, El Mala is advanced for his age. It won’t be long before he is recognized across Europe as one of the most exciting prospects from the 2006 generation.

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