Mathieu Khedimi (19 February 1964 – 31 December 2023) was a French rugby league coach and player. He played as hooker or lock forward. He played his entire career for AS Saint-Estève with which he won several titles. An author of the rugby league literature considered him as "long the soul of the club".[2]
Biography
Khedimi was trained in rugby union in the ranks of USA Perpignan, reaching the Reichel Championship semi-final in 1982, under the guidance of the coach Louis Cros.[3]
In rugby league, he was part of the great Saint-Estève team, collecting the titles of the French Championship and Lord Derby Cup in the 1980s and the 1990s.
Career
Finally, he earned 9 caps for France between 1987 and 1994,[2] taking part at the 1985-1988, 1989-1992 and 1995 World Cups. He was also the coach of AS Saint-Estève in 1998, with a French Championship and Lord Derby Cup title. Before his death, Khedimi was the French Rugby League Federation vice-president, along with Marc Palanques.
Personal life
Mathieu Khedimi was father of the rugby league players Matthieu Khedimi and Romain Khedimi, the former being a French international.
In his civil life, he owned an earthworks company, after being a municipal police officer.[4]
Khedimi died on 31 December 2023, at the age of 59.[5]
Honours
Player
- Team Honours :
- Winner of the French Championship : 1989, 1990, 1993 and 1997 (Saint-Estève).
- Winner of the Lord Derby Cup : 1987, 1993, 1994 and 1995 (Saint-Estève).
- Runner-up at the French Championship : 1992, 1995 and 1996 (Saint-Estève).
- Runner-up at the Lord Derby Cup :1988 and 1990 (Saint-Estève).
Coach
- Team honours :
- Winner of the French Championship : 1998 (Saint-Estève).
- Winner of the Lord Derby Cup : 1998 (Saint-Estève).
References
- ^ Mathieu Khedimi rugbyleagueproject.org
- ^ a b Mouret, Aimé (2011). "Kedhimi (sic) Mathieu". Le Who's who du rugby à XIII. Toulouse: Éditions de l'Ixcea. p. 145. ISBN 978-2-84918-118-8.
- ^ "Khedimi s'éclate à XIII en Australie". lindependant.fr (in French). Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ Mathieu Khedimi Attaché à St-Estève et aux valeurs humaines du rugby, Mathieu Khedimi est une figure du XIII stéphanois, L'Indépendant, 3 January 2011.
- ^ "Rugby à XIII : légende du XIII Français et du rugby catalan, Mathieu Khedimi est décédé". L'Indépendant. 31 December 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.