Mehdi Khalil

Mehdi Salim Khalil (Arabic: مهدي سليم خليل‎, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [ˈmahdi saˈliːm xaˈliːl, -de]; born 19 September 1991) is a Lebanese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Iranian club Zob Ahan, on loan from Ahed, and the Lebanon national team. Khalil is known as "the Mountain" (Arabic: الجبل‎) due to his height: indeed, he was the fifth tallest goalkeeper at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

Mehdi Khalil
Khalil with Lebanon in 2019
Personal information
Full name Mehdi Salim Khalil
Date of birth (1991-09-19) 19 September 1991
Place of birth Freetown, Sierra Leone[1]
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Zob Ahan
(on loan from Ahed)
Number 22
Youth career
2004–2007 Young Sportsmen Club
2007–2010 Johansen
2010 → Kallon (loan)
2011 Djurgårdens IF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2013 Johansen
2011 → Köping FF (loan)
2011 → Djurgårdens IF (loan) 0 (0)
2011–2012 → Kallon (loan)
2013–2017 Safa 50 (0)
2017– Ahed 39 (0)
2020– → Zob Ahan (loan) 5 (0)
National team‡
2013– Lebanon 40 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 27 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19 November 2019

Khalil started his senior career in Sierra Leone at Johansen, before moving to Sweden in 2011, first at Koping FF and then at Djurgårdens. Following his experience in Sweden, Khalil moved back to his native country, at Kallon, before joining Lebanese club Safa in 2013. After spending four years at the club, Khalil moved to Lebanese Premier League reigning champions Ahed in 2017. He won the 2019 AFC Cup with the side, the first in Lebanese history, as the competition's Most Valuable Player. In 2020, Khalil moved to Iranian side Zob Ahan on a six-month loan.

Khalil represented Lebanon at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup as their main goalkeeper, playing in all three group stage games. On November 2019, Khalil became Lebanon's all time most-capped goalkeeper, surpassing Ziad Al Samad's record of 39 caps.

Early life

Born in Sierra Leone to Lebanese parents, at age 12 Khalil started playing five-a-side football, popular in Sierra Leone, at Young Sportsmen Club as a defender.[3][4] Noticing his physical attributes, namely his height, Khalil's coach advised him to switch position to goalkeeper.[3][5] He switched to football at age 15, moving to Johansen.[4]

Club career

2009–2012: Sierra Leone and Sweden

Khalil began his senior career in Sierra Leone in 2009 at Johansen, a club founded by Norwegian couple Isha and Arne Johansen.[6][7] In 2010, Khalil played for Kallon U19 at the Viareggio Cup, an annual youth tournament held in Italy; he played two of the three games.[8]

Thanks to the Scandinavian connections, in March 2011 Khalil joined Swedish Division 3 side Köping FF on a three-month loan.[9][10] Talking about his first training session at the club, Khalil stated that "[the training] was fun [...] the guys seem lovely, and many of them are young, just like me."[9] Between April and June 2011, Khalil trained with Allsveskan clubs AIK and Trelleborgs.[10][11][12]

On 20 July 2011, Khalil moved to Djurgårdens, AIK's rivals, on a four-month loan.[13] He was noticed by the club's manager Magnus Pehrsson the previous year at a friendly tournament in Ghana; Khalil was nominated best goalkeeper of the tournament.[13] On 1 August 2011, the goalkeeper made his debut for the club's under-21 side in the U21 Allsvenskan against Brage, helping his side win 5–1.[14][15] On 25 October 2011, Djurgårdens announced that Khalil's contract wouldn't be renewed.[16]

Following his experience in Sweden, Khalil moved back to his native Sierra Leone,[17] playing for Kallon during the 2011–12 season.[3]

2013–2017: Safa

Through links with Roda Antar,[5] another Sierra Leonean-born Lebanese footballer, in January 2013 Khalil moved to Safa in the Lebanese Premier League.[5][6] Khalil signed a three-and-a-half-year contract in a deal worth $20,000.[3][5] Initially a reserve for Ziad Al Samad, Khalil became Safa's first choice goalkeeper from his third season at the club.[3]

Indeed, Khalil didn't play in the league in his first season (2012–13): his debut came during the 2013 AFC Cup, playing in a group stage game against Riffa on 2 April 2013; the match ended in a 1–0 win.[18] On 24 April 2013, Khalil was sent off against Regar-TadAZ in the 79th minute, with the opposing team scoring from the subsequent penalty kick.[19] However, Safa still won the encounter 3–2 thanks to a 92th minute goal by Mohamad Haidar.[19] In Khalil's first experience in the AFC Cup he played three matches, finishing third in the group.[20]

Khalil's debut in the league came in the 2013–14 season, on 23 November 2013, in a 5–0 win over Tadamon Sour.[21] The goalkeeper participated in the 2014 AFC Cup, playing two games.[20] Khalil became the club's starter from the 2014–15 season, playing 17 league games.[7] In 2015–16 Khalil played 16 league games,[7] helping Safa win their second league title.[6] He was included in the 2015–16 Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season for his performances.[22]

Following his contract's expiry in summer 2016, Khalil trialed with several Eerste Divisie teams in the Netherlands.[3] Khalil remained as Safa one further year, playing 16 games in the league during the 2016–17 season.[7] He also played in the 2017 AFC Cup, making two appearances.[20] In five seasons at the Beirut-based club, Khalil won two league titles (2012–13 and 2015–16), one FA Cup (2013–14), and one Super Cup (2013).[6]

2017–2020: Ahed
Khalil with Ahed in 2019

On July 2017, Khalil moved to Lebanese champions Ahed.[6][23] Khalil quickly asserted himself as the team's first-choice goalkeeper, playing 18 league games in the 2017–18 season.[7] He helped his team win the domestic treble, lifting the league title, cup, and Super Cup.[7] Khalil was Ahed's goalkeeper at the 2018 AFC Cup, playing eight games and reaching the zonal semi-finals,[20] where Ahed lost to Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya 5–3 on aggregate.[24][25] In his first season at the club, Khalil was included in the 2017–18 Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season as the league's best goalkeeper.[26]

The next season was also successful for the Lebanese goalkeeper, as he won his second domestic treble win Ahed; he played 21 league games in the 2018–19 season.[7] Khalil featured in the 2018–19 Lebanese Premier League Team of the Season.[27] On 4 November 2019, after beating April 25 in the final, he won the 2019 AFC Cup as the competition's Most Valuable Player.[6][28] Conceding just three goals in 11 matches, Khalil kept nine clean sheets (of which five consecutive in the knock-out stages) as Ahed went unbeaten throughout the whole tournament.[28] The 2019 AFC Cup win was the first for a Lebanese club.[29]

2020–present: Zob Ahan
Khalil celebrating with his teammates at Zob Ahan in 2020

On 7 January 2019, Khalil joined Persian Gulf Pro League side Zob Ahan on a six-month loan,[30][31] and would be reunited with former Lebanon national team coach Miodrag Radulović.[31][32] The player stated the conditions of his country and the ambiguity surrounding the resumption of sports activity as the reasons for the transfer.[33] Khalil became the fourth Lebanese player to play for the Iranian side, after Walid Ismail, Ali Hamam, and Rabih Ataya.[31][32]

Khalil made his league debut for Zob Ahan on 25 January 2020 against Pars Jonoubi Jam; despite being booked in the 64th minute Khalil kept a clean sheet, helping his side win 1–0 at home.[34] In Khalil's third game, on 7 February 2020, he once again kept a 1–0 clean sheet, against Sanat Naft, while being booked in the 89th minute.[35] Thanks to his performances in the two fixtures, Khalil was included in the Team of the Week on both occasions.[31]

On 27 June 2020, Zob Ahan extended Khalil's loan for an additional year.[36]

International career

Born in Sierra Leone, Khalil was called up for his native country at under-17 and under-20 level; however, he didn't feature in any match.[9][37] Eligible to represent Lebanon through his parents, Khalil opted to play for Lebanon's senior team in 2013.[7]

Khalil made his debut for Lebanon in a 0–0 draw against Bahrain on 17 March 2013.[38] He was part of the squad that played in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification between 2015 and 2016; initially Abbas Hassan's reserve for the first three games, Khalil became Lebanon's first-choice goalkeeper in the final five games of the second round of qualification.[38] Lebanon finished in second place in their group and, despite being eliminated from the World Cup, they gained access to the final round of qualification for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[39]

Drawn with North Korea, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, Khalil helped Lebanon finish top of the group unbeaten, conceding only four goals in six games.[40] Lebanon reached the Asian Cup finals for the first time through qualification.[40] Khalil was included in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup squad as Lebanon's main goalkeeper.[2] In the first two group stage matches, Lebanon lost 2–0 to both Qatar and Saudi Arabia.[41][42] Needing a win by four goals or more, Lebanon won 4–1 against North Korea for the first time in their history.[43] However, the three points weren't enough to qualify Lebanon to the knockout stage.[44] Khalil played all 90 minutes in all three group stage games.[6]

On 19 November 2019, during the second round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifications, Khalil played his 40th international game against North Korea.[38] He became Lebanon's all-time most capped goalkeeper, surpassing Ziad Al Samad's previous record of 39.[45]

Style of play

Known as "the Mountain" (Arabic: الجبل‎) due to his height,[28][46] Khalil is a goalkeeper with good reflexes and a big physical presence.[6] Indeed, at 1.96 m tall, Khalil was the fifth tallest goalkeeper at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[2] He is a fine shot stopper, and has a tendency to punch balls away from crosses.[6][47] In 2011 his agent Patrick Mörck described him as a "resilient, witty, and responsive goalkeeper", drawing similarities to Swedish former goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.[9] The same year Magnus Pehrsson, his coach at Djurgårdens, reaffirmed the similarities with Pehrsson, noting "his size and his actions".[13]

Personal life

Khalil's younger brother, Hadi, is also footballer; he plays as a goalkeeper for Lebanese club Ahed.[48] His uncle, Hussein Khalil, was also a footballer; he encouraged Mehdi to pursue football beyond a hobby.[5] Khalil's favourite club is Manchester United,[5] and his favourite player is former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.[9][5] Other than football, Khalil's favourite hobbies are tennis and swimming.[5]

Honours and achievements

Club

Safa

Ahed

Individual

Awards

References
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  2. "AC2019 Final Squads". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
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  4. "Mehdi Khalil har landat". Djurgården Fotboll. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  5. "مهدي خليل يروي في حوار لكووورة قصته المثيرة مع الساحرة المستديرة". كووورة. 15 April 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  6. "Mehdi Khalil, l'impassable cèdre". lucarne-opposee.fr. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  7. Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Mehdi Khalil". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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  9. Eriksson, Kristina (30 March 2011). "Mehdi vaktar KFF-målet". Magazin24.se. p. 11. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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  12. "Trelleborg testar målvakten Mehdi Khalil - vill plocka in fler". Fotbolltransfers.com (in Northern Sami). Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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  15. "Klar seger för U21". Djurgården Fotboll. 1 August 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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  29. "Al Ahed clinch historic title". www.the-afc.com. 4 November 2019. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
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  33. "مهدي خليل يرحل للدوري الإيراني". كووورة. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
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  35. "Zob Ahan vs. Sanat Naft - 7 February 2020 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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  37. "Two different Sierra Leone squads have been announced". BBC Sport. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
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  40. "Radulovic's Lebanon continue to climb". FIFA. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
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  42. "Group E: Lebanon 0–2 Saudi Arabia". The AFC. 12 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  43. "Group E: Lebanon 4–1 DPR Korea". The AFC. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  44. "Group E: Lebanon 4–1 DPR Korea". The AFC. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
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