Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ali Elkhattabi | ||
Date of birth | 17 January 1977 | ||
Place of birth | Schiedam, Netherlands | ||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
Position(s) | Striker | ||
Youth career | |||
1985–1988 | vv SVDPW | ||
1988–1990 | SVV | ||
1990–1995 | Sparta | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | ( Gls) |
1995–1996 | Sparta | 9 | (1) |
1996–1998 | Heerenveen | 41 | (12) |
1999–2001 | Sparta | 75 | (36) |
2001–2005 | AZ | 94 | (31) |
2005–2006 | → RBC (loan) | 19 | (1) |
Total | 238 | (81) | |
International career | |||
1997–2005 | Morocco | 10 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Ali Elkhattabi ( Arabic: علي الخطّابي; born 17 January 1977) is a former professional footballer. Born in the Netherlands, Elkhattabi gained 10 caps for Morocco, making his debut in 1997.
Elkhattabi began his professional career in the 1995–96 season with Sparta Rotterdam. [1] After one season, he moved to Heerenveen. He proved to be an efficient goalscorer in his first matches at the club, spawning interest from several top clubs in the Netherlands. [2] Three years later, Elkhattabi would, however, return to Sparta, where he scored 36 goals in 75 matches, striking up a partnership in attack with Bram Marbus. [3] His final season – 2000–01 – proved his most successful, finishing second in the Eredivisie Golden Boot with 21 goals in 33 appearances, only behind Mateja Kežman. [4] He was then signed by AZ. He stayed there for four years, before joining RBC Roosendaal on loan in 2005 after being rumored to Braga, Stoke City and Leeds United. [5] [6] Elkhattabi retired in September 2006, as he was not able to find a new club after his loan with RBC had expired. [1]
Elkhattabi has a fear of flying, a condition which severely limited his ability to play in away matches in European competitions and to travel with the national team. [2]
His international debut came against Togo in November 1997, and he was included in Morocco's 1998 World Cup squad. [7]
Elkhattabi has worked as a real estate agent since his retirement from football. [2] He has since also worked as a players' agent. [3]