Rani Khedira
Khedira at an autographing session in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-01-27) 27 January 1994
Place of birth Stuttgart, Germany
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Union Berlin
Number 8
Youth career
TV Oeffingen
2005–2012 VfB Stuttgart
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2014 VfB Stuttgart II 56 (1)
2014 VfB Stuttgart 9 (0)
2014–2017 RB Leipzig 47 (0)
2015–2016 RB Leipzig II 3 (2)
2017–2021 FC Augsburg 119 (6)
2021– Union Berlin 65 (2)
International career
2009 Germany U15 2 (0)
2009 Germany U16 3 (0)
2011 Germany U17 6 (0)
2012–2013 Germany U19 2 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2023

Rani Khedira (born 27 January 1994) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Union Berlin.

Club career

VfB Stuttgart

Khedira started his youth career at TV Oeffingen before moving to VfB Stuttgart in 2005, a year before his older brother, Sami, joined.[2][3] After progressing the ranks of Stuttgart Academy, he began to play for the U16 side by 2009.[4] He signed a contract with the club, keeping him until 2013.[5] On 28 January 2012, Khedira had his debut for VfB Stuttgart II in the 3. Liga against FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt.[6] During his time at VfB Stuttgart's reserves, he scored once for the side, in a 4–0 win over Wacker Burghausen on 8 September 2013.[7]

On 23 October 2012, Khedira was promoted to the first team of VfB Stuttgart.[8] He extended his contract with the club on 28 January 2013 until June 2015.[9] However throughout the 2012–13 season, Khedira never made his first team appearances, as he appeared the most of the season as an unused substitute.[10]

On 1 September 2013, Khedira made his Bundesliga debut for VfB Stuttgart in a 6–2 home victory against 1899 Hoffenheim.[11] On 7 December 2013, when he made his first start for Stuttgart, in a 4–2 win over Hannover 96.[12] From 29 January 2014 and 2 March 2014, he had a handful of starting his first team places.[13] Although he lost his first team place later on, Khedira went on to make nine appearances for the club.

RB Leipzig

For the 2014–15 season, Khedira moved to RB Leipzig, signing a three-year contract, keeping him until 2017.[14] The move was reported to be undisclosed.[15] RB Leipzig had been keen on signing him since September 2013.[16]

Khedira made his RB Leipzig debut in the opening game of the season, playing the whole game, in a 0–0 draw against VfR Aalen.[17] After making his RB Leipzig debut, he quickly established himself in the first team and played a key role for the club in his first season.[18] He also became a regular start player from the beginning of the season until he was suspended for one match against SV Sandhausen on 30 November 2014 having picked up five yellow cards this season.[19] However, in a 1–0 loss against FSV Frankfurt on 15 February 2015, he suffered a leg injury in the 69th minute and was substituted as a result.[20] The injury kept him out of action for several weeks.[21] On 17 May 2015, he returned to the first team from injury, in a 2–1 loss against Ingolstadt.[22] In his first season at the club, Khedira went on to make 24 appearances in all competitions.

Khedira playing for RB Leipzig in a friendly match against Liefering.

In his second season at RB Leipzig, Khedira found himself in a competition for his position and this resulted in him sitting on the substitutes bench at the start of the season.[23] Later in the season, he was plagued by injuries.[24][25] Nevertheless, he went on to make 16 appearances in all competitions, as RB Leipzig were promoted to the Bundesliga.

Ahead of the 2016–17 season, Khedira's first team opportunities continued to be limited and remained on the substitute bench following new competitions and by November, he had not made his first appearance of the season.[26] On 25 November 2016, he made his first appearance of the 2016–17 season, coming on as a second-half substitute, in a 4–1 win over Freiburg.[27] He went on to make ten appearances for the club this season. However, it was announced that Khedira was released by the club.[28] He had previously been advised by his brother not to leave the club.[29]

FC Augsburg

With his RB Leipzig contract expiring at the end of the 2016–17 season, Khedira joined fellow Bundesliga club FC Augsburg on 7 June 2017, signing a four-year contract.[30]

Union Berlin

In April 2021, Khedira was announced to join Union Berlin starting from the 2021–22 season.[31] On 19 March 2023, he scored his first goal at the club in a 2–0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.[32] On the final matchday of the 2022–23 season, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Werder Bremen, to secure the fourth place for his club in the league and qualification to the next season's Champions League.[33]

International career

After being featured for Germany U15 and Germany U16, Khedira was featured for Germany U17 and played for Germany at the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he played five times in the tournament.[34] The following year, Khedira was called up Germany U19 and immediately made an impact when he scored on his debut, in a 3–0 win over France U19 on 14 November 2012.[35] He made another Germany U19 appearance on 25 March 2013, in a 2–0 win over Ukraine U19.[36]

Three years on, Khedira earned a call-up by Germany U21 in November 2014.[37] Through his father, he is eligible to play for Tunisia, but he rejected call-ups to the team from the Tunisian FA.[38]

Personal life

Khedira was born in Stuttgart to a German mother and a Tunisian father.[39] He is the younger brother of retired Germany international Sami Khedira.[40] He also has an older brother, Denny.[2]

Khedira revealed that his father and older brother, Sami, influenced him to play football.[2] He quoted on his position: "The Six is my primary position, but I've played as a centre-back, too, or have moved half a position forward when we're two-a-side, I think I can adapt anywhere."[3] In response to being Sami's younger brother, Rani Khedira made it clear that he was not like his brother and that he wanted to go his own way.[41] Khedira also revealed that he has a qualification as a sports and fitness salesman.[42]

Career statistics

As of match played 13 August 2023[43]
Club Season League DFB-Pokal Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
VfB Stuttgart II 2011–12 3. Liga 120——120
2012–13 3. Liga 320——320
2013–14 3. Liga 121——121
Total 561——561
VfB Stuttgart 2013–14 Bundesliga 9000—90
RB Leipzig 2014–15 2. Bundesliga 22020—240
2015–16 2. Bundesliga 19010—200
2016–17 Bundesliga 10000—100
Total 51030—540
RB Leipzig II 2014–15 NOFV-Oberliga Süd 10——10
2015–16 Regionalliga Nordost 22——22
Total 32——32
FC Augsburg 2017–18 Bundesliga 30110—311
2018–19 Bundesliga 30440—344
2019–20 Bundesliga 32010—330
2020–21 Bundesliga 27120—291
Total 119680—1276
Union Berlin 2021–22 Bundesliga 320508[lower-alpha 1]0450
2022–23 Bundesliga 3323010[lower-alpha 2]0462
2023–24 Bundesliga 00100010
Total 65290180922
Career total 2931120018033111

Honours

Germany U-17

References

  1. ↑ "Rani Khedira". 1. FC Union Berlin. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 ""Mein Verein"" (in German). VfB Stuttgart. 12 December 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 ""Wir sind nicht zufrieden"" (in German). VfB Stuttgart. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Sami KhediraIn BILD erklärt sein Vater den Nationalspieler" (in German). Bild.de. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Khedira-Bruder Rani spielt in StuttgartDie Super-Talente der Bundesliga" (in German). Bild.de. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Reichwein macht es doppelt" (in German). kicker.de. 28 January 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "VfB Stuttgart II besiegt Burghausen mit 4:0" (in German). Bild.de. 8 September 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Rani Khedira rückt auf". VfB Stuttgart (in German). 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  9. ↑ "Khedira extends deal until 2015". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Kommt Rani Khedira für Gentner nach?" (in German). kicker.de. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "Ibisevic macht das halbe Dutzend voll" (in German). kicker.de. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  12. ↑ "Ibisevic macht das halbe Dutzend voll" (in German). kicker.de. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  13. ↑ "Schneider testet Bubi YalcinSechser-Sensation beim VfB" (in German). Bild.de. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "RB holt Khedira - und will auch Boyd" (in German). kicker.de. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "Rani Khedira leaves VfB". vfb.de. VfB Stuttgart. 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "Wann gibt es den ersten Gomez aus Leipzig?" (in German). Bild.de. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  17. ↑ "Leipzigs Pressing bringt keinen Erfolg" (in German). kicker.de. 2 August 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  18. ↑ "In Leipzig spielt Khedira eine Rolle" (in German). kicker.de. 4 February 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  19. ↑ "Zorniger: "Sandhausen ist eine Macht"" (in German). kicker.de. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  20. ↑ "Roshi nutzt Coltortis Blackout" (in German). kicker.de. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  21. ↑ "Erneute Pause für Leipzigs Khedira" (in German). kicker.de. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  22. ↑ "Lex erlöst die Schanzer - Ingolstadt steigt auf" (in German). kicker.de. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  23. ↑ "Leipzigs Khedira soll ein Spezialist werden" (in German). kicker.de. 7 January 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  24. ↑ "Rangnick fordert Balleroberungen - Khedira fällt aus" (in German). kicker.de. 2 October 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  25. ↑ "Weinzierl in Leipzig aus dem Rennen - Khedira verletzt" (in German). kicker.de. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  26. ↑ "Leipzig-KhediraDer traurigste Stammplatz der Liga" (in German). Bild.de. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  27. ↑ "Keitas Knaller gibt gleich die Richtung vor" (in German). kicker.de. 25 November 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  28. ↑ "Compper verlängert - Khedira sagt Adieu" (in German). kicker.de. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  29. ↑ "FußballSami Khedira riet Bruder Rani von Leipzig-Weggang ab" (in German). Bild.de. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  30. ↑ "Augsburg angelt sich Rani Khedira" (in German). kicker.de. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  31. ↑ "Rani Khedira wechselt vom FC Augsburg zu Union Berlin" (in German). rbb24.de. 26 April 2021.
  32. ↑ "Union schlägt Frankfurt mit 2:0" (in German). Union Berlin. 19 March 2023.
  33. ↑ "Khedira schießt Union in die Champions League" (in German). Sportschau. 27 May 2023.
  34. ↑ "Freund benennt seinen WM-Kader" (in German). kicker.de. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  35. ↑ "U 19 lässt Frankreich abblitzen" (in German). kicker.de. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  36. ↑ "Testspielsieg für DFB-U19" (in German). VfB Stuttgart. 14 November 2012. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  37. ↑ "Khediras Deutschland-Debüt platzt" (in German). kicker.de. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  38. ↑ "Khedira: "Gab nie den Gedanken, für Tunesien zu spielen"" (in German). Fussball Transfers. 10 February 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  39. ↑ "Deutsche Talente und ihre Alternativen" (in German). Kurier. Archived from the original on 19 June 2009.
  40. ↑ "Stuttgart: Auf den Spuren des großen Bruders Khedira und der VfB: Rani eifert Sami nach". Kicker Online.
  41. ↑ "Neben SamiRani träumt von der Khedira-Doppelsechs" (in German). Bild.de. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  42. ↑ "Der kleine Khedira erobert die Bundesliga" (in German). Bild.de. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  43. ↑ "Rani Khedira". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
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