Ali El-Khatib Explained

Ali El-Khatib
Upright:0.7
Fullname:Ali El-Khatib
Birth Date:18 March 1989
Birth Place:Shefa-'Amr, Israel
Position:Attacking Midfielder, Right winger
Currentclub:Hapoel Kfar Saba
Clubnumber:10
Youthyears1:2001–2006
Youthclubs1:Hapoel Shefa-'Amr
Youthyears2:2006–2008
Youthclubs2:Hapoel Haifa
Years1:2008–2009
Clubs1:Maccabi Ironi Shlomi Nahariya
Caps1:7
Goals1:4
Years2:2009
Clubs2:Maccabi Ironi Tamra
Caps2:12
Goals2:1
Years3:2009–2011
Clubs3:Jabal Al-Mukaber
Caps3:
Goals3:
Years4:2011
Clubs4:Hilal Al-Quds
Caps4:2
Goals4:2
Years5:2012
Clubs5:Jabal Al-Mukaber
Caps5:1
Goals5:0
Years6:2012
Clubs6:Hapoel Haifa
Caps6:8
Goals6:4
Years7:2012–2013
Clubs7:Maccabi Netanya
Caps7:27
Goals7:6
Years8:2013–2015
Clubs8:Maccabi Akhi Nazareth
Caps8:45
Goals8:14
Years9:2015–2016
Clubs9:Hapoel Haifa
Caps9:10
Goals9:0
Years10:2016–2017
Clubs10:Maccabi Akhi Nazareth
Caps10:48
Goals10:9
Years11:2017–2019
Clubs11:Hapoel Hadera
Caps11:43
Goals11:7
Years12:2019–2020
Clubs12:Maccabi Akhi Nazareth
Caps12:33
Goals12:10
Years13:2020–2024
Clubs13:Ihud Bnei Shefa-'Amr
Caps13:74
Goals13:47
Years14:2024
Clubs14:Hapoel Kfar Saba
Caps14:8
Goals14:1
Years15:2024–
Clubs15:Hapoel Umm al-Fahm
Caps15:0
Goals15:0
Nationalyears1:2010
Nationalteam1:Palestine U23
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2011
Nationalteam2:Palestine
Nationalcaps2:6
Nationalgoals2:2
Club-Update:1 June 2024

Ali El-Khatib (Arabic: علي الخطيب, Hebrew: עלי חטיב; born 18 March 1989) is a professional footballer who plays for Hapoel Umm al-Fahm. Born in Israel, he has represented the Palestine national team.

Club career

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.

Hapoel Haifa

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.[2]

Maccabi Netanya

In June 2012 it was announced that Ali El-Khatib has joined Maccabi Netanya.

International career

As one of a growing number of Arab-Israelis playing professionally in the WBPL and representing Palestine internationally .[3] 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."[4]

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

Club

Club performanceLeagueCupLeague CupContinentalTotal
Season Club LeagueApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps GoalsApps Goals
IsraelLeagueIsrael State CupToto CupEuropeTotal
2008–2009Maccabi Ironi Shlomi NahariyaLiga Alef195100000205
PalestineLeagueCupLeague CupAsiaTotal
2009–2010Jabal Al MukaberPremier League----------
2010–2011----------
2011Hilal Al-Quds21------21
2011Jabal Al Mukaber10------10
IsraelLeagueIsrael State CupToto CupEuropeTotal
2011–12Hapoel HaifaLiga Al114100000124
2012–13Maccabi NetanyaLiga Al276103010326
Career total60153030106715

International

As of 31 January 2012

! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition !! Reports
1. 6 December 2011 1–0 1–0 Friendly
2. 17 December 2011 1–0 2–0 2011 Pan Arab Games

Honours

Notes and References

  1. News: Palestinian fury after player joins Israel team . Agence France-Presse . Yahoo! News Singapore . 27 January 2012 . 31 January 2012 .
  2. Web site: Ali Khatib (Hapoel Haifa) loses teeth & consciousness in a shocking assault by two Maccabi Petah Tikva staff members. 101greatgoals.com. 1 April 2012.
  3. http://www.kooora2.com/?player=56241 – A. AL khateeb – كووورة
  4. Web site: Palestinian, Israeli soccer teams take their battle off the pitch. Haaretz. 2 March 2012.