Ali Kazemaini
Encyclopedia
Ali Kazemaini is a retired Iranian-American soccer forward
who currently coaches at Cleveland State. He spent eight seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League
and one in the National Professional Soccer League, earning 1985 MISL Rookie of the Year honors.
, Iran
, Kazemaini moved to the United States to attend Orange High School
in Orange County, California
. He graduated from Orange High School in 1980 and entered Cleveland State University
that fall. While at Cleveland State, he played on both the school’s soccer and tennis teams. In June 1983, the U.S. government discovered that he had allowed his student visa to lapse in January 1979, thus placing him in the country illegally. He subsequently reapplied for a visa as well as U.S. citizenship. Kazemaini played for the Vikings from 1980 to 1983. He finished his career ranked fifth on the career goals list with 41, sixth in points with 102 and ninth in assists with 20. He was a second team All American in 1981 and 1983. In addition to soccer, Kazemaini played on the school's tennis team in 1982 and 1983.
Following his collegiate career, Kazemaini was selected for the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team. However, he had not yet received his citizenship before the games began and was dropped from the team.
and the San Diego Sockers of the North American Soccer League
. He signed with the Force, earning Rookie of the Year honors for the 1984-1985 season. When the Force folded following the 1987-1988 season, he moved to the Tacoma Stars. At some point, he moved to the Baltimore Blast
, playing for them during at least the 1991-1992 season. Both MISL and the Blast folded at the end of the season, and Kazemaini moved to the Canton Invaders
of the National Professional Soccer League for the 1992-1993 season. He retired from playing professionally in 1993.
hired Kazemaini as head coach. Over fourteen seasons, his team won seven Ohio Athletic Conference regular season titles and four post-season tournament titles and compiled a 177-61-13 record. On December 15, 2005, Kazemaini moved to Cleveland State.
In 2005, Kazemaini coached the Cleveland Soccer Academy in the USL Super Y-League.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who currently coaches at Cleveland State. He spent eight seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
and one in the National Professional Soccer League, earning 1985 MISL Rookie of the Year honors.
Youth
Born in TehranTehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Kazemaini moved to the United States to attend Orange High School
Orange High School (California)
Orange High School is a traditional 4 year public high school located in the city of Orange in Orange County, California, United States. Orange High is part of the Orange Unified School District and competes in the Golden West League....
in Orange County, California
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
. He graduated from Orange High School in 1980 and entered Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
that fall. While at Cleveland State, he played on both the school’s soccer and tennis teams. In June 1983, the U.S. government discovered that he had allowed his student visa to lapse in January 1979, thus placing him in the country illegally. He subsequently reapplied for a visa as well as U.S. citizenship. Kazemaini played for the Vikings from 1980 to 1983. He finished his career ranked fifth on the career goals list with 41, sixth in points with 102 and ninth in assists with 20. He was a second team All American in 1981 and 1983. In addition to soccer, Kazemaini played on the school's tennis team in 1982 and 1983.
Following his collegiate career, Kazemaini was selected for the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team. However, he had not yet received his citizenship before the games began and was dropped from the team.
Professional
In 1983, Kazemaini was drafted by both the Cleveland Force of Major Indoor Soccer LeagueMajor Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
and the San Diego Sockers of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He signed with the Force, earning Rookie of the Year honors for the 1984-1985 season. When the Force folded following the 1987-1988 season, he moved to the Tacoma Stars. At some point, he moved to the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (1980-92)
Baltimore Blast were a longtime member of the Major Indoor Soccer League. From 1978 to 1980, the team was played as Houston Summit but moved prior to the 1980-81 season. The team won the league's championship in 1984. The team folded when the MISL ceased operation in the summer of 1992.-History:The...
, playing for them during at least the 1991-1992 season. Both MISL and the Blast folded at the end of the season, and Kazemaini moved to the Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
of the National Professional Soccer League for the 1992-1993 season. He retired from playing professionally in 1993.
Coach
In 1992, John Carroll UniversityJohn Carroll University
John Carroll University is a private, co-educational Jesuit Catholic university in University Heights, Ohio, United States, a suburb of Cleveland. The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus as Saint Ignatius College.The university was founded in 1886 by the Society of Jesus, as...
hired Kazemaini as head coach. Over fourteen seasons, his team won seven Ohio Athletic Conference regular season titles and four post-season tournament titles and compiled a 177-61-13 record. On December 15, 2005, Kazemaini moved to Cleveland State.
In 2005, Kazemaini coached the Cleveland Soccer Academy in the USL Super Y-League.