Hossein Kaebi (, born 23 September 1985) is an Iranian former professional footballer who last played for Sepidrood and Perspolis among other clubs in Persian Gulf Pro League.

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 played 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. He was part of the Team that won Iran's Premier Football League in 2004 with Foolad for the first time. Kaebi disappointed many when he signed for UAE club Emirates. Kaebi signed a contract with Persepolis F.C. on 25 February 2007 on a 6-month deal.

On 5 July 2007, he signed a two-year deal with Leicester City for an undisclosed fee,Foxes recruit Iran defender Kaebi BBC Sport 5 July 2007. making his debut as a substitute in a 4–1 win over Watford on 25 August.Leicester 4–1 Watford, BBC Sport 25 August 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-26. Kaebi used a translator to speak for him during his time at Leicester City as he could not speak English. He was relegated to the reserve squad following the sacking of Martin Allen on 29 August.Allen ends brief Leicester reign, BBC Sport 29 August 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-09.

Kaebi revealed on 19 September that he was settling in well with the club and was eager to show his talent to the fans.Kaebi settled at Leicester, Sky Sports 19 September 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-20. But on 15 October, he told the Leicester Mercury that he was frustrated at being left in the reserve squad. This left many Iranian fans to question the club's decision to leave an international footballer out of the first team setup.WHEN WILL CITY PLAY THE PRINCE OF PERSIA?, Leicester Mercury 15 October 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-18. Kaebi later declared to Sky Sports that if his "time on the bench continues then" he would consider leaving Leicester.Iranian banking on Holloway, Sky Sports 28 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.

He finally made his long-awaited start on 11 December in a 3–1 defeat to Ipswich Town on 11 December 2007.Kaebi Starts , Leicester City 11 December 2007. He was however transfer listed by then-manager Ian Holloway on 23 December, eight days after featuring in a 2–0 defeat to Hull City, his last ever appearance for the club.Holloway begins clear-out, Sky Sports 23 December 2007. Retrieved on 2007-12-24. He was released by mutual consent on 4 February 2008, after he failed to secure a move from Leicester when the January transfer window closed.

Return to Iran

He was returned to Persepolis after he failed to make an impact at 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. After 2 seasons he settled in one club and played in Asian Champions League also played 26 games in 2008–9 season for Saipa.Then he joined Steel Azin and spent two seasons before joining Rah Ahan in 2011 where he joined his beloved coach Ali Daei where they fall apart after Kaebi failed to attend few training sessions on time and he decided to leave and move to Sanat Naft in January 2013 where he stayed for half a season and 6 months before joining Esteghlal Khuzestan for 2013–14 season. After a short stint at Sepidrood, he announced his retirement from football in December 2018.

Club career statistics

World record In March 2025, Transfer Market claimed that Hossein Kaabi was the only footballer in the world with the most national team appearances before the age of 24. Club performance League Cup Continental Total Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total2002–03 Foolad Pro League24400--2442003–0418120--201 Qatar League Emir of Qatar Cup Asia Total2004–05Al SaddQatar Stars League1830062245 Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total2005–06FooladPro League2620050312 United Arab Emirates League President's Cup Asia Total2006–07EmiratesUAE Football League7100--71 Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total2006–07PersepolisPro League6310--73 England League FA Cup Europe Total2007–08 Leicester CityChampionship3000--30 Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total2007–08 PersepolisPro League10000--1002008–09 Saipa26110202912009–10 Steel Azin30431--3352010–1125120--2712011–12 Rah Ahan26110--2712012–138000--80Sanat Naft19000--1902013–14 Esteghlal Khuzestan19000--1902016–17 SepidroodAzadegan League 2---- 22017–18 Pro League26010--2702018–198000--80 Total Iran271191117028920 Qatar1830062245 United Arab Emirates7100--71 England3000--30 Career total2992311113232326

Assist Goals SeasonTeamAssists05–06Foolad207–08Leicester City107–08Persepolis108–09Saipa109–10Steel Azin210–11Steel Azin011–12Rah Ahan212–13Rah Ahan012–13Sanat Naft1

International career Kaebi won his first cap having just turned 17, scoring his first international goal against Cameroon League XI on 15 August 2003, although the match was not considered an official international. 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.Portugal 2–0 Iran, BBC Sport 17 June 2006. 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.China 2–2 Iran: Nekounam seals fightback , ESPN 15 July 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-29. He was called to Team Melli for 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. He also performed in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification for Team Melli. In 2009, he made a mistake against Qatar in a friendly, which Iran lost in the last minute and Kaebi was dropped for the rest of the games and was used as a substitute for a while.

International caps IranYearAppsGoals2002202003912004170200511020069020072020081502009180201010Total841

International goals Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first. # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 12 October 2003 Azadi Stadium, Tehran 3–0 3–0 AFC/OFC Cup Challenge

Honours

Club Iran Pro League Winner: 2 2004/05 with Foolad 2007/08 with Persepolis F.C.

International Iran AFC/OFC Cup Challenge winner: 2003 WAFF Championship winner: 2004 Asian Cup Third Place: 2004 AFC U-16 Championship Runner-up: AFC U-17 Championship 2000

Iran U23 Asian Games Gold Medal: 2002

References

Footnotes

General references حسین کعبی، مربی فولاد شد Retrieved in Persian www.farsnews.ir حسین کعبی تنها مشترک فولاد – السد(عکس) Retrieved in Persian www.varzesh3.com Portugal vs. Iran Retrieved in Soccerway 17 June 2006 کعبی: چرا موقع گزارش بازی لستر از من اسم نمی‌برند؟ Retrieved in Persian www.varzesh3.com حسین کعبی، از تیم ملی نوجوانان تا لسترسیتی انگلیس Retrieved in Persian www.iribnews.ir بازی با پرتقال باید 50بار اخراج میشدم؛ رونالدو رو بدتر از فیگو زدم Retrieved in Persian www.irna.ir پاسخ صادقانه حسین کعبی به سوالات جنجالی علی ضیا ویدئو Retrieved in Persian www.ilna.news حسین کعبی: برای خداحافظی با علی کریمی مشورت کردم/ فوتبالم را با عزت شروع کردم و با عزت هم به پایان رساندم Retrieved in Persian www.tasnimnews.com Hossein Kaebi retires from football Retrieved in Persian www.tehrantimes.com What happened next: Hossein Kaebi – YouTube star, Leicester City nightmare and a political protest Retrieved www.Leicestermercury.com Fifa world cup 2006 Portugal vs. Iran Hossein Kaabi played in the main squad of the Iranian national team and received a yellow card in the form of Figo

External links

Hossein Kaebi at PersianLeague.com

Hossein Kaebi at metafootball