Kaleshin Vitaliy is a native of Krasnodar and a pupil of a local football school. It is not surprising that the guy chose this profession, because his father is none other than the famous midfielder in the past who wore the uniform of the Kuban for many seasons in a row. Vitaly's elder brother, Eugene Kaleshin, also followed in his father's footsteps. He defended the colors of several Russian clubs, and currently works on the Kuban coaching bridge.
First steps
Vitaliy Kaleshin is a footballer whose debut came on the semi-amateur Kolos. The guy quickly made a name for himself and at the age of seventeen he “went on raising” all to the same “Kuban”. There he mainly played for the double in the championship of the Krasnodar Territory. Vitali had good chances to get into one of the Russian football teams, but the young defender accepted the offer of the Moldavian Roma. In Balti, where the club was based, Vitaly Kaleshin played two full seasons, and then went back to Russia, signing a contract with Lada from Togliatti.
Career development
The Togliatti team was the first where defender Kaleshin was the unconditional player of the main team. However, then he also played in the position of a defensive midfielder, which did not stop him from scoring nineteen goals in 126 matches for Lada. By the way, it was during the performance for the Kaleshin club that the team was able to rise from the zonal tournament to the first football league. No wonder that the young player, who was in great shape, was very quickly offered to go on promotion and return to his hometown. Of course, he could not refuse.
Return to Krasnodar
At the age of 23, Vitaly Kaleshin joined the Kuban’s squad by signing a long-term contract with the club. During the performance for the “yellow-green”, the footballer gradually “sank” closer to his goal and gradually re-qualified as an extreme defender, and he could play on both flanks. Possessing good speed, he covered the entire edge, regularly included in the attack. The footballer spent 5 seasons in the Kuban and twice helped her rise to the Premier League. True, the Krasnodar team did not manage to stay in the elite division for more than a year. By the way, thanks to his leadership qualities both in Tolyatti and in Krasnodar, Vitaliy became the team captain.
At the peak
Having played one and a half hundred matches for the Kuban, Vitaly Kaleshin, after the next relegation from the Premier League and the year spent in FC Moskva (the football player spent only 18 matches for the capital club, nevertheless signed the rivals twice), accepted the proposal forward by leaps and bounds of Kazan "Rubin".
Here, the championship’s bronze, gold, and the National Cup, and two Super Cups of the country obeyed the player. The crown of appearances for Kazan was the legendary match at Camp Nou, where Kaleshin and the company beat perhaps the most powerful club in the world - the Catalan Barcelona. Then the players of the Kazan team gave a real sensation and reason for pride to their fans, and Kaleshin played 90 minutes in that match. In total for “Rubin”, the defender spent more than 50 matches, and this particular segment of his career can be considered the most successful in his football biography. Kaleshin twice recognized as the best football player in the Krasnodar Territory. Kazan will always remember who Vitaly Kaleshin is. Photo player posted in the club museum.
Second homecoming
By the time the contract with Rubin expired, Kaleshin was already 33 years old. By football standards, this is the age of a veteran, so playing at the highest level became increasingly difficult. Nevertheless, in his native Krasnodar, the defender was met with open arms, and in 2013 Vitaly Kaleshin returned for the second time to play in his native city. Now in FC Krasnodar. Despite his venerable age, the defender is the main one in the club and, possibly, will spend another 1-2 seasons at the highest level.