Jani Kaçi
Quick Facts
Biography
Jani Kaçi (born 17 August 1952 in Korçë) is a retired Albanian professional footballer. He played in goal for Skënderbeu Korçë in the 70s and 80s as well as the Albania national team, earning himself 6 full senior caps. He is widely considered to be one of Skënderbeu Korçë's best ever goalkeepers.
He has also managed Skënderbeu Korçë and won the 2006-07 Albanian First Division with the club. In February 2010 he was named as assistant manager under Mirel Josa at Skënderbeu, a position which he filled until the manager's departure at the end of the 2009-10 season. He has since returned to his post as the goalkeeping coach of Skënderbeu. In recent years he has also been goalkeeping coach of the Albania U-21 national team.
Career
Born in Korçë on 17 August 1952 to an Albanian mother and a Greek father born in Athens, Kaçi joined his local side Skënderbeu Korçë as a 13-year-old where he became a goalkeeper due to his height. He joined the under–19s in 1967, at the age of just 15, and made his senior debut just two years later in an Albanian Cup game against Besëlidhja Lezhë. In 1972 he interrupted his studies at the High Agricultural Institute of Korçë to complete his military service, with the home of joining the military side Partizani Tirana. He was forced to join KF Elbasani instead as Partizani was a tour of China at the time. He played for Elbasani between 1972 and 1973, when he was spotted military commander Petrit Dume in a match against Partizani which Elbasani won 3–0, who insisted that he joined Partizani.
Honours
Managerial
- Skënderbeu Korçë
- Albanian First Division (1): 2006-07