Rasoul Khatibi

He is the younger brother of Hossein Khatibi, who is also a football manager and former professional footballer.

Rasoul Khatibi

Khatibi in 2021 as Aluminium Arak manager
Personal information
Full name	Rasoul Paki Khatibi
Date of birth	(1978-09-22) 22 September 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth	Tabriz, Iran
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1993–1996	Machine Sazi
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1996–1997	Tractor
1997–1999	Pas
1999–2000	Hamburger SV	4	(0)
2000	→ Esteghlal (loan)	0	(0)
2000–2003	Pas		(16)
2003	→ Esteghlal (loan)	0	(0)
2003–2006	Sepahan	67	(32)
2006–2007	Sharjah		(12)
2007–2008	Emirates	22	(14)
2008–2009	Dhafra		(2)
2009	Sepahan	8	(0)
2009–2011	Gostaresh	36	(16)
2010	→ Tractor (loan)	11	(2)
2011–2012	Machine Sazi	3	(2)
2012–2013	Gostaresh	12	(5)
International career
1999	Iran U23	4	(3)
1998–2008	Iran	27	(5)
Managerial career
2011–2012	Machine Sazi (player-manager)
2012–2014	Gostaresh Foolad
2014–2015	Tractor
2015	Siah Jamegan
2015–2017	Machine Sazi
2019–2020	Machine Sazi
2020–2021	Aluminium Arak
2021	Tractor
2021–2023	Aluminium Arak
2023–	Paykan
Medal record Representing  Iran Asian Games 1998 Bangkok Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Khatibi began his professional football career, playing for his hometown club, Tractor, following the footsteps of his brother, Hossein Khatibi. He was able to impress people, and after scoring many goals for his club, he was transferred to Pas Tehran. He continued to play well, giving himself a chance to join Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga along with fellow Iranian internationals Mehdi Mahdavikia and Vahid Hashemian.

While playing in Hamburg, he only had a couple of appearances, and was not able to make good use of this opportunity.^{[citation needed]} He soon returned to Iran, back to his old club, Pas Tehran. He then briefly played for Esteghlal in the Asian Champions League before signing for Sepahan. Sepahan was able to win the IPL championship in 2003 and Khatibi started showing his good form again. In the 2005–06 season, he was able to score ten goals, completing his impressive record in Sepahan with 32 goals in three seasons. His tally would have been higher if not for his poor chances to goals ratio. In June 2006, he signed a two-year contract with United Arab Emirates club Sharjah FC, after rejecting an offer from Spanish second division side CD Tenerife. In 2007, Khatibi signed a new contract with Emirates Club for $700,000 to join his Iranian teammate Reza Enayati. The contract had a clause which stated that if a European club offered Khatibi a contract, then the existing contract with Emirates Club would be canceled. He then joined Gostaresh Foulad as player-manager. He announced his retirement on 5 August 2013.

Khatibi represented Iran internationally at various age levels. He was a constant member of the Iran Olympic team during his time in Tractor Sazi and Pas, but despite the talent on the team, they were never successful. He gained his first international cap on 15 February 1999 versus Kuwait. His appearances for the national team have been inconsistent, but due to his good form in the 2005–06 season he was called up to the main squad which headed to Germany for World Cup 2006. He has 24 caps and five goals for the national team.

After joined Machine Sazi in summer 2011, he becomes player-manager of Machine Sazi Tabriz on 1 July 2011 to lead the team in Azadegan league. After spending one season at Machine Sazi and led them to the third rank and lost the promotion play-off on goal difference, he becomes head coach of another Tabrizi based team, Gostaresh Foolad and led the club to promotion to the Iran Pro League. He renewed his contract for another three seasons on 13 May 2013 but resigned on 26 December 2013 after a run of unsuccessful results.

On 31 May 2014, Khatibi was appointed as new manager of Tractor, replaced Toni. He signed a three-year contract with the club. However, he was sacked on 8 February 2015 after a run of poor results.

Club

As of 20 June 2021

 

As a player

Pas

• Iran Pro League runner-up: 1997–98

Esteghlal

• Iran Pro League runner-up: 1999–00
• Hazfi Cup: 1999–00

Sepahan

• Hazfi Cup: 2003–04, 2005–06

Gostaresh

• Hazfi Cup runner-up: 2009–10

As a manager

Gostaresh

• Azadegan League: 2012–13

Tractor

• Shohada Cup: 2014

Machine Sazi

• Azadegan League runner-up (promotion): 2015–16

Aluminium Arak

• Azadegan League runner-up (promotion): 2019–20

Individual

• Azadegan League Manager of the Season: 2015–16