Eli Babalj
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Eli Babalj | ||
| Date of birth | 21 February 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | AZ | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2007–2008 | WA NTC | ||
| 2008–2009 | Perth Glory | ||
| 2009–2010 | AIS | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010–2012 | Melbourne Heart | 35 | (11) |
| 2012 | Red Star Belgrade | 6 | (1) |
| 2013 | Melbourne Heart | 9 | (1) |
| 2013– | AZ | 0 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2007–2009 | Australia U17 | 8 | (2) |
| 2009–2011 | Australia U20 | 11 | (6) |
| 2012– | Australia | 2 | (2) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 April 2013. † Appearances (Goals). | |||
Eli Babalj (born 21 February 1992) is an Australian footballer who plays for Eredivisie club AZ.
Club career
Born in Sarajevo, SFR Yugoslavia, Babalj has spent the majority of his life in Australia and started off playing with Perth SC. In 2008 he was signed by Perth Glory for their Youth League team. However he was signed by the AIS for the 2009–10 season in which the AIS came last, however Babalj managed to find the net 9 times.
Melbourne Heart
On 26 December it was announced that A-League expansion club Melbourne Heart had signed the then 17 year old for their inaugural A-League 2010–11 season.[1] He made his debut for the club in a friendly against Geelong All Stars XL and also scored his first goal in that match.[2] He also took part in the friendly against Everton FC in which Heart lost 2–0.[3] He made his debut for Melbourne Heart in the opening round of the 2010–11 A-League season against Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park.[4] During May 2012 it was announced that Serbian side Red Star Belgrade was scouting him.[5]
Red Star Belgrade
On 7 June 2012 it was announced he had signed with Serbian Superliga contender Red Star Belgrade.[6][7] He made his debut on 31 August 2012, against Bordeaux in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League play-off round.[8] He scored his first goal on his league debut against FK Smederevo on 29 September 2012.
Melbourne Heart
It's understood Red Star still owes Heart just under $100,000, and a clause in the contract has enabled the Melbourne Heart to bring him back. Red Star Belgrade's failure to pay the final instalment of his $400,000 transfer fee has paved the way for his return. Eli Babalj made his return appearance to the A-League for the Melbourne Heart away to the Western Sydney Wanderers on Australia Day, 26 January 2013 as a 2nd half substitution.
AZ
On 19 April 2013, Dutch club AZ Alkmaar completed the signing of Eli for a fee believed to be in the region of $200,000.[9]
International career
He has represented Australia at Under-20 level during the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship qualification for the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship. He played in 4 qualification games, scoring 3 goals, against Singapore, and two against Chinese Taipei.[10] Babalj also represented Australia at the AFF U-19 Youth Championship. He scored against Vietnam and the winning goal in the final of the AFF U-19 Youth Championship against Thailand.[11] He made his debut for Australia's senior team on 14 November 2012 in a friendly against South Korea.[12] Babalj was selected in the Socceroo's squad for the East Asian Cup qualification round. He started his first game for Australia against Guam in a 9-0 win, scoring a double before being substituted.[13]
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 8 December 2012 | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong |  Guam | 2–0 | 9–0 | 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup |
| 2. | 8 December 2012 | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong | Guam | 4–0 | 9–0 | 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup |
Career statistics
- As of 21 November 2012
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Australia | League | Cup | Oceania/Asia | Total | ||||||
| 2010–11 | Melbourne Heart | A-League | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| 2011–12 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 9 | ||
| Serbia | League | Serbian Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| 2012–13 | Red Star | SuperLiga | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
| Total | Australia | 35 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 11 | |
| Serbia | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 41 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 12 | ||
Honours
With Australia:
- AFC U-19 Championship: 2010 (Runners-Up)
- AFF U-19 Youth Championship: 2010
References
- ↑ "Giant striker Babalj has plenty of heart". Canberra Times. 26 December 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ↑ "Heart Overcome Energetic Eagles To Wrap Up Westpac Festival". Melbourne Heart FC. 18 June 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ↑ "Melbourne Heart show plenty of ticker in 2-0 loss to Everton". Herald Sun. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
- ↑ Rielly, Stephen (6 August 2010). "Central Coast Mariners deny Melbourne Heart house-warming party". The Australian. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- ↑ Ilija Babalj pred Marakanom at Kurir, retrieved 30-5-2012 (Serbian)
- ↑ http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/melbourneheart/news-display/Heart-Confirms-Babalj-To-Red-Star-Transfer/47661
- ↑ Red Star sign Australian hope Eli Babalj; Footballcracy, 8 June 2012
- ↑ Eli Babalj - Performance data Transfermarkt.co.uk
- ↑ http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/former-central-coast-striker-matt-simon-on-melbourne-hearts-radar/story-fndcvh7n-1226627351652
- ↑ "Qantas Young Socceroos defeat Chinese Taipei". Football Federation Australia. 10 November 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- ↑ "Young Socceroos Clinch AFF Title". Four Four Two. 31 July 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
- ↑ Zurnal (Serbian): Бабаљ умало стрелац за Кенгуре на дебију - 14 November 2012.
- ↑ Sportske (Serbian) - Babalj dva puta u metu... 8 December 2012
External links
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