Ali Elkhattabi

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ali Elkhattabi

| image = Ali El Khattabi.jpg

| caption = Elkhattabi with AZ in 2005

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1977|1|17}}

| birth_place = Schiedam, Netherlands

| height = 1.70 m

| position = Striker

| youthyears1 = 1985–1988

| youthyears2 = 1988–1990

| youthyears3 = 1990–1995

| youthclubs1 = vv SVDPW

| youthclubs2 = SVV

| youthclubs3 = Sparta

| years1 = 1995–1996

| clubs1 = Sparta

| caps1 = 9

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 1996–1998

| clubs2 = Heerenveen

| caps2 = 41

| goals2 = 12

| years3 = 1999–2001

| clubs3 = Sparta

| caps3 = 75

| goals3 = 36

| years4 = 2001–2005

| clubs4 = AZ

| caps4 = 94

| goals4 = 31

| years5 = 2005–2006

| clubs5 = → RBC (loan)

| caps5 = 19

| goals5 = 1

| totalcaps = 238

| totalgoals = 81

| nationalyears1 = 1997–2005

| nationalteam1 = Morocco

| nationalcaps1 = 10

| nationalgoals1 = 1

}}

Ali Elkhattabi ({{langx|ar|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.

Club career

Elkhattabi began his professional career in the 1995–96 season with Sparta Rotterdam. 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. 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.{{cite news |title=El Khattabi: Van hattrick hero tot zaakwaarnemer |url=https://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/148749/El-Khattabi-Van-hattrick-hero-tot-zaakwaarnemer |work=Rijnmond |date=18 November 2016 |language=NL}} 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.{{cite web |title=Ali El-Khattabi » Eredivisie 2000/2001 |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/ali-el-khattabi/ned-eredivisie-2000-2001/sparta-rotterdam/3/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=16 April 2021 |language=en}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Leeuwen |first1=Gerrit van |title=Elkhattabi in English snub |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2343275/elkhattabi-in-english-snub |access-date=16 April 2021 |work=Sky Sports |language=en}}{{cite news |title=RBC praat met AZ-spits Ali Elkhattabi |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/rbc-praat-met-azspits-ali-elkhattabi |work=Voetbal International |date=27 July 2005 |language=nl}} Elkhattabi retired in September 2006, as he was not able to find a new club after his loan with RBC had expired.{{cite news |title=Aanvaller Elkhattabi stopt per direct |url=https://www.nu.nl/sport/834799/aanvaller-elkhattabi-stopt-per-direct.html |work=NU |date=27 September 2006 |language=nl}}

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.{{cite web |last1=van Wonderen |first1=Mark |title=Column 'vergeten' voetbalhelden: Ali El Khattabi |url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/171552/column-vergeten-voetbalhelden-ali-el-khattabi |website=www.nhnieuws.nl |publisher=NH Nieuws |accessdate=2 August 2020 |date=28 September 2015}}