Ali El-Khatib (Arabic: علي الخطيب, Hebrew: עלי חטיב; born 18 March 1989) is a professional footballer who plays for Hapoel Kfar Saba. Born in Israel, he has represented the Palestine national team.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ali El-Khatib | ||
| Date of birth | 18 March 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Shefa-'Amr, Israel | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Attacking Midfielder, Right winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Hapoel Kfar Saba | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2001–2006 | Hapoel Shefa-'Amr | ||
| 2006–2008 | Hapoel Haifa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2009 | Maccabi Ironi Shlomi Nahariya | 7 | (4) |
| 2009 | Maccabi Ironi Tamra | 12 | (1) |
| 2009–2011 | Jabal Al-Mukaber | – | (–) |
| 2011 | Hilal Al-Quds | 2 | (2) |
| 2012 | Jabal Al-Mukaber | 1 | (0) |
| 2012 | Hapoel Haifa | 8 | (4) |
| 2012–2013 | Maccabi Netanya | 27 | (6) |
| 2013–2015 | Maccabi Akhi Nazareth | 45 | (14) |
| 2015–2016 | Hapoel Haifa | 10 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | Maccabi Akhi Nazareth | 48 | (9) |
| 2017–2019 | Hapoel Hadera | 43 | (7) |
| 2019–2020 | Maccabi Akhi Nazareth | 33 | (10) |
| 2020–2024 | Ihud Bnei Shefa-'Amr | 74 | (47) |
| 2024– | Hapoel Kfar Saba | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2010 | Palestine U23 | 8 | (0) |
| 2011 | Palestine | 6 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2023 | |||
Club career edit
El-Khatib grew up in the Arab city of Shefa-'Amr in Northern Israel where he played for local side, Hapoel Shefa-'Amr.[1]
He was brought to Palestinian club Jabal Al-Mukaber in by the coach, Samir Issa, in 2012. While playing for them, a controversy erupted over El-Khatib's contract.
Hapoel Haifa had given him a trial after someone had informed the coach of El-Khatib's talents. He was then chosen to join the club after 5 or 10 minutes of his try-out.
However, the signing caused an outrage with his previous club, who alleged that he had three-and-a-half years left on his contract, resulting in them taking the case to FIFA after a Tel Aviv District Court denied their appeal. El-Khatib denied that he signed a contract with the club, claiming that they had forged his signature on the contract. The president of Jabal Al-Mukaber compared Hapoel's action to that of a horse thief under the pretence that they stole a player who was under contract.[2]
Hapoel Haifa edit
In a league match on April 1, 2012, he was involved in a mass brawl in which he was assaulted by staff members. The match, which was against Maccabi Petah Tikva, had ended with a free-kick goal for the hosts, Maccabi Petah Tikva. Immediately after the final whistle, the players went at each other.
Petah Tikva's goalkeeping coach, Ami Ganish, had unprovokingly headbutted El-Khatib which knocked him down. Afterwards, Yigal Maman, a high-ranking employee kicked him in the head while he was on the ground, causing him to lose consciousness.
El-Khatib had to be taken to the hospital and was treated for a fractured jaw and missing teeth. The two members of staff were detained by police.[3]
Maccabi Netanya edit
In June 2012 it was announced that Ali El-Khatib has joined Maccabi Netanya.
International career edit
As one of a growing number of Arab-Israelis playing professionally in the WBPL and representing Palestine internationally .[4] He stated his dream is to play for Israel, and also said "It would be wonderful if one day the Palestinian national team could play against the Israel national team. Then I would play the first half of the game with one team and the second half with the other team."[2]
He received his first national team cap against Thailand in 2014 World Cup qualifying on July 23, 2011. He scored his first senior team goal in a friendly match against Bahrain, the 67th-minute goal proved to be the winner as the game ended 1–0. 11 days later, he scored his second goal in a crucial match against Sudan which secured Palestine passage to the 2011 Pan Arab Games semifinal.
Career statistics edit
Club edit
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Israel | League | Israel State Cup | Toto Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
| 2008–2009 | Maccabi Ironi Shlomi Nahariya | Liga Alef | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 5 |
| Palestine | League | Cup | League Cup | Asia | Total | |||||||
| 2009–2010 | Jabal Al Mukaber | Premier League | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2010–2011 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2011 | Hilal Al-Quds | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 1 | |
| 2011 | Jabal Al Mukaber | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | |
| Israel | League | Israel State Cup | Toto Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
| 2011–12 | Hapoel Haifa | Liga Al | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 4 |
| 2012–13 | Maccabi Netanya | Liga Al | 27 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 6 |
| Career total | 60 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 15 | ||
International edit
As of 31 January 2012
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Reports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 6 December 2011 | Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad |  Bahrain |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly | |
| 2. | 17 December 2011 | Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan |  Sudan |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2011 Pan Arab Games |
Honours edit
- West Bank Premier League
- Winner (1): 2009–10
- Runner-up (1): 2010–11
References edit
- ^ "Palestinian fury after player joins Israel team". Yahoo! News Singapore. Agence France-Presse. 27 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ a b "Palestinian, Israeli soccer teams take their battle off the pitch". Haaretz. 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Ali Khatib (Hapoel Haifa) loses teeth & consciousness in a shocking assault by two Maccabi Petah Tikva staff members". 101greatgoals.com. 1 April 2012.
- ^ – A. AL khateeb – كووورة
External links edit
- Ali El-Khatib – Israel Football Association league player details