Albanian football stars Jani Kaçi

Jani Kaçi Considered one of the best Albanian goalkeepers. The legendary goalkeeper of v. `70-`80, was born in Korça on August 17, 1952 to parents – a Greek father and an Albanian mother. Jani, who is originally from Saranda, started to be active as a goalkeeper with the team of Skënderbeu of Korça at the age of 13 because of his height. Activated with the U-19 team in 1967 at the age of 15 and made his debut with the first team just two years later in a match of the Albanian Cup against Besëlidje se Lezha. In 1972, he interrupted his studies at the Higher Agricultural Institute of Korça to complete his mandatory military service. He was sent to an artillery unit in Elbasan where he would join the "Labinoti" team, at the time when Partizan was on a tour in China. Then, as the goalkeeper of "Labinot", he caught the eye of Petri Dumas during a match against Partizan, which "Labinot" won 3-0. Petrit Dume then insisted to the coach of Partizan, Loro Boriçi, to bring him back to the club, which he then joined in January 1973. Jani Kaçi returned to "Skënderbeu" in January 1976 and retired from football prematurely in 1985, at the age of 32, after the communist leaders in Korça harassed him because of his father's Greek origin! Also, he was accused of tearing a photo of communist leader Enver Hoxha while playing for Partizan. Jani Kaçi, after a period of time at Partizan, started to wear the shirt as a goalkeeper with the number 22, which was rare at that time in Albania. With the National Team, he made his debut for Albania in a friendly match in November 1976 against Algeria, being in the lineup in a total of 6 matches. The last match with the National Team would be a World Cup qualifier in April 1981 against West Germany. Career as a trainer. He also coached Skenderbeu of Korça where they won the National Championship in the 2006-07 season. In February 2010 he was appointed as an assistant coach under Mirel Josa at Skënderbeu, a position he filled until his departure at the end of the 2009-10 season. He then came back as coach of the goalkeepers of Skanderbeg. In recent years, he has also coached the goalkeepers of the Albanian U-21 national team. FILE Career with youth 1965-1969…… Skenderbeu With adults 1969–1972…..Skenderbeu 1972…………..Labinoti 1973–1975…. .Partizani 1976–1985…..Skënderbeu Representatives 1972–1976….Albania U-21 1976–1981….Albania Coach: 1985–1987….Skënderbeu (youth) 1987–1995.. ..Skenderbeu 1996………….Skenderbeu 1997–1999….Pindos 2000–2001….Gramozi 2001………….Skenderbeu 2006–2007….Skenderbeu 2008–2009….Skenderbeu (tr. of goalkeepers) 2014–……….. Skenderbeu (U-19) Sports Vision / Hour of Champions, January 2021