Rasoul Paki Khatibi (; born 22 September 1978) is an Iranian football coach and former player who is the manager of the Persian Gulf Pro League team Fajr Sepasi.
Club career Khatibi began his professional football career, playing for his hometown club, Tractor, following the footsteps of his brother, Hossein Khatibi. After scoring many goals for his club, he was transferred to Pas Tehran. He remained in Tehran for over a year before he transferred to Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga along with fellow Iranian internationals Mehdi Mahdavikia and Vahid Hashemian.
While playing in Hamburg, he did not make many appearances. 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. He scored ten goals in the 2005–06 season, completing his impressive record in Sepahan with 32 goals in three seasons. 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.
International career 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. He was called up to the Iran national football team for 2006 World Cup. He has 24 caps and five goals for the national team.
Coaching career After he joined Machine Sazi Tabriz in summer 2011, he became player-manager on 1 July 2011, and went on to lead the team in the Azadegan league. After spending one season at Machine Sazi resulting in a third place finish and a loss in the promotion play-off on goal difference, he became head coach of fellow Tabrizi team Gostaresh Foolad. He 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, replacing Toni.Official: Khatibi, new head coach of Tractor Sazi He signed a three-year contract with the club. However, he was sacked on 8 February 2015 after a run of poor results.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsHamburger SV1998–99Bundesliga4000–40Esteghlal (loan)1999–2000Azadegan League0000–00Pas2000–01Azadegan League14600–1462000–02Iran Pro League18800–1882002–0311220–132Total431620004516Esteghlal (loan)2002–03Iran Pro League00003232Sepahan2003–04Iran Pro League198006225102004–052714006433182005–06211010–2210Total6732101268038Sharjah2006–07UAE Pro-League211200–2112Emirates2007–08UAE Pro-League221400–2214Al Dhafra FC2008–09UAE Pro-League9200–92Sepahan2008–09Persian Gulf Cup801061151Gostaresh2009–10Division 1231233–26152010–1113410–144Total361643004019Tractor (loan)2010–11Persian Gulf Cup11200–112Machine Sazi2011–12Division 13211–43Gostaresh2012–13Division 110500–1052013–14Iran Pro League1000–10Total1150000115Career total35210194219352101
Managerial statistics
TeamFromToRecordMachine Sazi July 2011 July 2012Gostaresh July 2012 January 2014Tractor May 2014 February 2015Siah Jamegan June 2015 August 2015Machine Sazi November 2015 December 2016Machine SaziJuly 2017December 2017Machine Sazi June 2019 January 2020Aluminium Arak January 2020 February 2021Tractor February 2021 June 2021Total
Honours
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
References
External links
Rasoul Khatibi at TeamMelli.com