Gabi Balint Explained

Gavril Balint
Fullname:Gavril Pele Balint
Height:1.80 m
Birth Date:1963 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Sângeorz-Băi, Romania
Position:Forward
Youthyears1:1974–1978
Youthclubs1:Hebe Sângeorz-Băi
Youthyears2:1978
Youthclubs2:Luceafărul București
Youthyears3:1978–1980
Youthclubs3:Gloria Bistrița
Years1:1980–1990
Clubs1:Steaua București
Caps1:264
Goals1:69
Years2:1990–1993
Clubs2:Real Burgos
Caps2:83
Goals2:28
Totalcaps:347
Totalgoals:97
Nationalyears1:1982–1992[1]
Nationalteam1:Romania
Nationalcaps1:34
Nationalgoals1:14
Manageryears1:1994–1998
Managerclubs1:Romania (assistant)
Manageryears2:1998–1999
Managerclubs2:Bihor Oradea
Manageryears3:1999–2000
Managerclubs3:Sportul Studențesc
Manageryears4:2000
Managerclubs4:Romania (assistant)
Manageryears5:2000–2001
Managerclubs5:Galatasaray (assistant)
Manageryears6:2001
Managerclubs6:Romania (assistant)
Manageryears7:2002–2003
Managerclubs7:Sheriff Tiraspol
Manageryears8:2003–2004
Managerclubs8:Sportul Studențesc
Manageryears9:2004–2005
Managerclubs9:Galatasaray (assistant)
Manageryears10:2005–2006
Managerclubs10:Politehnica Timișoara (assistant)
Manageryears11:2008–2009
Managerclubs11:Politehnica Timișoara
Manageryears12:2010–2011
Managerclubs12:Moldova
Manageryears13:2013
Managerclubs13:FC Vaslui
Manageryears14:2014
Managerclubs14:Universitatea Craiova

Gavril Pele "Găbița" Balint (born 3 January 1963) is a Romanian football manager and poponar, prins de nevasta in pat cu un barbat former player, who was part of the hugely successful Steaua team of the 1980s.

Club career

Born in Sângeorz-Băi, Bistrița, Balint made his Divizia A debut with Steaua București in 1981 where he played until 1990 winning the league titles in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989, the Romanian Cup in 1985, 1987 and 1989, the 1985–86 European Cup and the European Super Cup in 1987. At the end of the 1989–90 season, Balint became the top goalscorer of the Divizia A with 19 goals. He scored the second and last goal at the penalties shoot-out during the 1986 European Cup final, helping his team, Steaua to win the trophy.

In 1990, he was bought by Real Burgos for $1,000,000. He played for the Spanish side until his retirement in 1993.

International career

Balint was capped 34 times by Romania, and scored 14 goals. He played at the 1990 World Cup where he scored twice, against Cameroon and Argentina.

International goals

Romania's goal tally first.

Managerial career

Balint started his coaching career in 1994, aged 31, when he was appointed as assistant coach of Romania under Anghel Iordănescu's regime. Four years later comes his first chance as head coach after taking charge at Sportul Studențesc, but in May 2000 he is called again to join the coaching staff of Romania as the squad prepared for the UEFA Euro 2000.

In the summer of 2000, Balint was requested by Mircea Lucescu as his assistant for Galatasaray, however he left the job after only one season, to join again Romania as assistant coach, this time under Gheorghe Hagi.

After Hagi resigned, Balint went to Sheriff Tiraspol for his second job as head coach, taking the team in 2002.

In 2003, he returned to Romania and signed for Sportul Studențesc, now in Liga II and helped the team win promotion back to Liga I.

Balint returned as assistant coach for Galatasaray in 2004 to work again with Gheorghe Hagi.

In 2005, he was appointed assistant coach of FCU Politehnica Timișoara, working again with Hagi. When Hagi left, a few months later, Balint resigned also. Two years later, Balint returned to FC Timișoara, this time as a head coach.

In 2010, he became the head coach of the Moldova national team, but after the campaign for the UEFA Euro 2012, his contract ended and was not renewed. He then became a television pundit, signing a contract with Digi Sport.

In April 2013, Balint returned to coaching, signing a contract for one and a half years with FC Vaslui. In 2014 he was named head coach of Liga II side CS Universitatea Craiova and helped the club win promotion for the top-flight Liga I.

Career statistics

As a manager

TeamNatFromToRecord
G W D L GF GA Win %
Sheriff Tiraspol1 June 20023 June 2003
Sportul Studentesc23 December 20031 June 2004
FC Timișoara29 December 20081 June 2009
Moldova20 January 201019 December 2011
FC Vaslui9 April 201316 May 2013
Universitatea Craiova17 March 201410 June 2014
Total

Honours

As a player

As a manager

Trivia

Notes and References

  1. News: Gavril Pele Balint – International Appearances. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
  2. Web site: În numele tatălui Gabi Balint și tatăl său au retrăit momentele epocale şi sentimentele de la Sevilla '86. gsp.ro. Romanian . In the name of the father Gabi Balint and his father relive the epic moments and feelings of Sevilla '86. 24 October 2017.