Kalani, Hossein

Hossein Kalani (حسین کلانی) is a former Iranian forward who played the majority of his career with Persepolis. Born in January of 1945 in Tehran, his career stretched over a decade in which he won numerous honors for both club and country. During his younger years in addition to soccer he also dabbled in the 100 meters dash and set a record of 1.67 meters in the high jump that stood for many years.

He began his playing career at the youth level with Poolad although after a move and the subsequent distance between the new residence and Poolad’s training grounds prompted him and other players of his age in the new neighborhood to create their own team named Saleh (named after a street in their neighborhood). Saleh’s incredible performances and numerous wins caught the attention of a number of Tehrani teams. In the end it was Taj that stepped forward and adopted Saleh as its youth farm team and renaming it Mashal’e Taj. 

It was during this transition that Kalani was promoted to Deyhim Taj. Concurrently, and at age 14, he also was also selected and represented Shemiran in the nation’s school soccer competition in Qazvin.  His performances in this competition did not go unnoticed by scouts from Shahin.

In 1963 Deyhim faced Shahin in Tehran’s Championship and while Shahin would score 7 goals, however, the lone goal scored by Kalani for Deyhim renewed interest in him and eventually resulted in an adult contact for the 18 year old. An early injury sidelined him for 6 months and subsequently it became a battle for playing time before establishing himself in the team. Kalani would win the 1965 Tehran Championship and score 6 goals in the process. He would finish with Shahin in 1966 although a broken leg would limit his participation. Kalani would spend another season in 1967 with Shahin although it would be cut short mid-season after a match with Tehranjavan due to the dissolution of Shahin as a result of political issues.

In 1968 Kalani would join Persepolis and help them win a 5-team tournament in order to determine Iran’s representative in the Asian Club Championship. He would be loaned to Paykan for the 1969 season. Not only did Kalani win Tehran’s championship but he also emerged as the league’s top scorer with 11 goals. He would later follow it up with winning the Doosti Cup in early 1970 against domestic and foreign opposition before returning to Persepolis.

Back with Persepolis, Kalani participated in one of the 4 sub-groups of the 1970-71 national championship. After scoring 6 goals in the group phase, Kalani faced Taj in the semifinals. With Kalani scoring once again and the game tied 1-1, Persepolis walked off the field in the 76^th minute in protest to the officiating. Not only were Persepolis declared 3-0 losers of the match, but also Kalani received a one-year ban although it was later reduced to 9 months. 

After serving his suspension Kalani would once again take the field with Persepolis and remain with them until 1975. With them he would take part in the newly established Takht’e Jamshid Cup, winning gold in the 1973-74 season and also scoring once in the 6-0 thrashing of rivals Taj. 

He would finish runners up in the 1974-75 season. Internal conflicts with certain Persepolis players prompted Kalani to leave Persepolis. On the other hand his old club Shahin, under the name of Shahbaz, had reentered Iran’s club scene and had made its way up from the 3^rd division into the Takht’e Jamshid Cup. While Kalani originally joined them in a coaching capacity but he ultimately suited up for them in the 2^nd division in the 1975-76 season and upon promotion to the Takht’e Jamshid Cup, earned a 3^rd place finish in the 1976-77 season before finally hanging his boots.

While Kalani would make his national team debut in the 1967 RCD Cup, however, a few fortunate events enabled him to make his mark on the international stage the following year during the 1968 Asian Championship, played on home soil. Behzadi’s lack of match fitness, Talebi’s injury and Shirzadegan’s absence opened the door for Kalani to shine. While it seemed like he would be a starter in the opener against Hong Kong, however, a verbal altercation during practice prior to the game cost him and Eftekhari their spots. In spite of the win, the lackluster performance prompted changes to the starting lineup against Taiwan. Kalani not only would start, but would register a goal and an assist in a 4-0 win and earn himself the title “The Chinese Crusher” by the media. Kalani would also score in the following game against Burma and would line up against Israel in which a 2-1 win would earn him and his teammates a gold medal.

Kalani would win the 1970 RCD Cup but later that year would crash out of the 1970 Asian Games in group play although he would register an assist in a tie with Indonesia.  

Kalani would take part in qualifiers for the 1972 Olympics and score a goal against North Korea in Iran’s successful qualifying campaign. In the midst of qualification, Iran took part in the 1972 Asian Championship. Kalani would score once in the pre tournament game against Cambodia to decide seeding. In the proper tournament he would score a hattrick against Iraq in group play while in the Final his overtime strike would give Iran the lead against South Korea and the championship. His 5 goals would earn him the top scorer title.

By virtue of winning the Asian Championship Iran was invited to Brazil’s Minicopa and Kalani would take part in 4 of Iran’s games but remain scoreless. He would be omitted from Iran’s roster for the 1972 Olympics. In 1973 Kalani would take part in two of the group games of qualification for the 1974 World Cup but at this juncture his national team career would finally come to a close.

In total he would score 11 goals in 24 caps over a 6-year international career. He would be named as one of the members of Persepolis’ Hall of Fame and in 2013 the club presented him with a bust of his likeness and named him as one of the twelve great players of Persepolis in the 1970s.