Mathieu Khedimi

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".

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.

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, 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.

Khedimi died on 31 December 2023, at the age of 59.

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).