Hossein Kaebi

Infobox Football biography
playername= Hossein Kaebi


fullname = Hossein Kaebi
nickname =
height = height|m=1.68
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|12|23
cityofbirth = Ahvaz
countryofbirth = Iran
currentclub = Saipa
clubnumber = 13
position = Defender/Midfielder
youthyears = 2000–2002
youthclubs = Esteghlal Ahvaz
years = 2002-2005 2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007 2007-2008 2008 2008-
clubs = Foolad Al-Sadd Foolad Emirates Persepolis Leicester City Persepolis Saipa |
caps(goals) = 00?0(2) 00?0(3) 0260(2) 0070(1) 0060(3) 0030(0) 0100(0) 0020(0)
nationalyears = 2002-
nationalteam = Iran
nationalcaps(goals) = 65 (2)
pcupdate = 17 August 2008
ntupdate = 14 June 2008

Hossein Kaebi (also spelled Ka'abi, PerB|حسین کعبی, born 23 December, 1985 in Ahvaz) is an Iranian football player who currently plays for Persepolis F.C. in the Iran Pro League and the Iran national football team.

Hossein is the youngest of 14 siblings in his family. He has 8 older brothers and 5 older sisters. [cite web|url=http://www.footballmedia.net/articles.asp?id=198|title=EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH HOSSEIN KAEBI|footballmedia.net|accessdate=2007-07-18]

Club career

Kaebi started his football in Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C. youth academy, before moving to Foolad. It was in this club that Croatian coach Vinko Begović quickly discovered him and soon he was in the first team line-up despite his tender young age. He was selected for the U17 team that performed well in the AFC U-17 Championship 2000. He was also selected for the national team soon after the Asian Championship. Kaebi started getting attention from European clubs at an early age and went on a 3 week trial at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2003. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/3291187.stm|title=Kaebi joins Wolves
bbc.co.uk|accessdate=2007-06-26] He was part of the Team that won the Iran's Premier Football League on 2004 with Foolad for first time.

Some analysts say he is destined to be one of the best players in the team continentally and internationally in the near future. Kaebi disappointed many when he signed for UAE club Emirates. Kaebi signed a contract with Persepolis F.C. on February 25, 2007 on a 6 month deal.

Leicester City

In June 2007, Kaebi was linked with numerous clubs such as Tottenham and Wigan. On 5 July 2007, he signed a two year deal with Leicester City for an undisclosed fee, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/6272790.stm Foxes recruit Iran defender Kaebi] BBC Sport 2007-07-05.] making his debut as a subtitute in a 4-1 win over fc|Watford on August 25 at the Walkers Stadium. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/6952795.stm Leicester 4-1 Watford] , BBC Sport 2007-08-25. Retrieved on 2007-08-26.] Kaebi was relegated to the reserve squad following the sacking of Martin Allen on August 29. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/6969388.stm Allen ends brief Leicester reign] , BBC Sport 2007-08-29. Retrieved on 2007-12-09.]

Kaebi revealed on September 19 that he was settling in well with the club and was eager to show his talent to the fans. [ [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11712_2740157,00.html Kaebi settled at Leicester] , Sky Sports 2007-09-19. Retrieved on 2007-09-20.] But on 15 October, he revealed to the Leicester Mercury that he was frustrated at being left in the reserve squad. Many Iranian fans questioned why Kaebi, who is a regular in the national team, could not get first team football with a club in the second tier of English football. [ [http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=132407&command=displayContent&sourceNode=132390&contentPK=18666334&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch WHEN WILL CITY PLAY THE PRINCE OF PERSIA?] , Leicester Mercury 2007-10-15. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.] Kaebi hoped new manager Ian Holloway would use him in the first team, telling Sky Sports that if his "time on the bench continues then" he would consider leaving Leicester City. [ [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11712_2926338,00.html Iranian banking on Holloway] , Sky Sports 2007-11-28. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.]

Kaebi finally made his long awaited start on December 11, playing on the right wing as Leicester lost 3-1 to fc|Ipswich Town at Portman Road. [ [http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~1188688,00.html Kaebi Starts] , Leicester City 2007-12-11.] He was however placed on the transfer list by manager Holloway on 23 December, eight days after a 2-0 defeat to fc|Hull City, his last ever appearance for the club. [ [http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11712_3003337,00.html Holloway begins clear-out] , Sky Sports 2007-12-23. Retrieved on 2007-12-24.] His time at Leicester came to an end on Monday, 4 February 2008, when he was released by mutual consent.cite news| title = Kaebi departs Walkers| url = http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11712_3108682,00.html| publisher = Sky Sports| date = 2008-02-04| accessdate = 2008-02-06] Kaebi used a translator to speak for him during his time at fc|Leicester City as he could not speak English.He was returned to Persepolis after he failed to make an impact at fc|Leicester City.He won the Iran's Premier Football League for the second time under Afshin Ghotbi.Despite the offer from Persepolis F.C. he decided to move to Saipa F.C. He said he wanted to experience new team and he could not continue playing for Persepolis F.C. but he never said why. Many others believed that he moved to Saipa F.C. for a better offer.

Club Career Stats

Last update: 18 August 2008

International career

Kaebi won his first cap having just turned 16, scoring his first international goal against Cameroon League XI on August 15 2003, although the match was not considered an official international. [cite web|url=http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/daei-intlg.html|title=Ali Daei - Century of International Appearances|publisher=RSSSF|quote=...the matches against ... Cameroon League XI (1-2, 30- 5-03 in Abuja, LG Cup), and Cameroon XI (4-1,..., 15- 8-03 in Tehran, LG Cup) ..., are not considered full "A" international matches|accessdate=2008-01-10] He scored his first official goal for Iran against New Zealand in the 2003 AFC/OFC Cup Challenge . In 2004, he was named amongst World Soccer Magazine's Top 10 most promising players.He was in Iran squad for 2004 Asian Cup which finished third and he also won the 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship in Tehran.Kaebi was in the Iran squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, appearing in all three matches of the group stage. His most memorable performance came against Portugal, where he was able to 'clamp down' both Cristiano Ronaldo and Luís Figo. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4853078.stm Portugal 2-0 Iran] , BBC Sport 2006-06-17. Retrieved on 2007-09-04.] He was also included in the squad for the 2007 Asian Cup, making just one appearance against China, which ended in a 2-2 draw. [ [http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=221265&cc=4716 China 2-2 Iran: Nekounam seals fightback] , ESPN 2007-07-15. Retrieved on 2007-09-29.] He was called to Team Melli for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

International goals

:"Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first."

Honours

*Iran's Premier Football League Winner: 2

**2004/05 with Foolad

**2007/08 with Persepolis F.C.

;Iran
*Winner

**AFC/OFC Cup Challenge: 2003

*West Asian Football Federation Championship:1

**2004

Notes

External links

*
* [http://www.teammelli.com/Roster/KaebiRoster.htm Hossein Kaebi] at [http://www.teammelli.com TeamMelli.com]
* [http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10274~40048,00.html Hossein Kaebi's Profile at Leicester City Official Site]