Gregor Balažic Explained

Gregor Balažic
Fullname:Gregor Balažic[1]
Birth Date:12 February 1988
Birth Place:Murska Sobota, SFR Yugoslavia
Position:Centre-back
Youthyears1:–2005
Youthclubs1:Mura
Youthyears2:2005–2007
Youthclubs2:Benfica
Years1:2005
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Years2:2007
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2007
Caps3:2
Goals3:0
Years4:2008–2010
Caps4:72
Goals4:2
Years5:2011–2014
Caps5:79
Goals5:7
Years6:2015–2016
Caps6:38
Goals6:1
Years7:2017–2019
Caps7:48
Goals7:2
Years8:2020–2021
Caps8:44
Goals8:1
Years9:2022–2023
Caps9:34
Goals9:2
Totalcaps:318
Totalgoals:15
Nationalyears1:2004
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2006
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2007–2010
Nationalteam3:Slovenia U20
Nationalcaps3:6
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2007–2010
Nationalcaps4:19
Nationalgoals4:0
Nationalyears5:2013–2014
Nationalcaps5:2
Nationalgoals5:0

Gregor Balažic (born 12 February 1988) is a retired Slovenian professional footballer who played as a central defender.[2]

In Slovenia, he played for Mura and Gorica. He had spells abroad in Spain, Ukraine, Serbia, Russia and Cyprus, notably having a four-year spell with Karpaty Lviv in the Ukrainian Premier League and winning the 2014–15 Serbian SuperLiga with Partizan.

Balažic represented Slovenia at all youth levels, and made his senior debut in 2013.

Club career

Early career

Born in Murska Sobota, Balažic came through the youth academy of Mura, who went defunct in 2005. He made his first-team debut at the age of 17 in a 2–1 home league win against Zagorje on 30 April 2005, during the club's last competitive season.

In the summer of 2005, Balažic was transferred to Benfica of Portugal. Until his departure two years later, he played exclusively for their youth sides.[3] [4]

Spain

In June 2007, Balažic moved to Spain and signed with Espanyol, being initially registered for the reserves.[5] However, two months later, he left for Águilas also in the country's Segunda División B.[6]

Balažic suffered a knee injury early into the campaign,[7] which resulted in the termination of his contract in December 2007.[8]

Gorica

In the winter transfer window of 2008, Balažic returned to his country and signed for Gorica of the Slovenian PrvaLiga. He scored his first goal as a senior on 5 December 2009, helping to a 1–1 home draw against Olimpija Ljubljana.

Balažic contributed with 29 games in 2009–10, helping his team to finish third and qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

Karpaty Lviv

In January 2011, Balažic signed with Karpaty Lviv in the Ukrainian Premier League, penning a four-year deal for €400,000 in what was the club's most expensive transfer ever.[9] On 6 March he made his competitive debut, netting in a 2–2 draw at Arsenal Kyiv.[10]

In the first round of 2014–15, Balažic scored in a 2–2 away draw to Hoverla Uzhhorod.[11] He scored a career-best four goals during that season, in only 13 matches.

Partizan

On 4 February 2015, Balažic signed a two-year contract with Partizan.[12] On 28 February he made his first appearance, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Radnički Niš.

On 25 April 2015, during the Eternal derby against Red Star Belgrade, Balažic was fouled in the area by Vukašin Jovanović in what should have been a penalty for Partizan, but referee Milorad Mažić did not concede it.[13] A week later, against Vojvodina, this time it was Balažic who brought down an opponent but, again, nothing was awarded; later, he admitted he did commit the infraction.[14] [15]

During his debut campaign, Balažic partnered his compatriot Branko Ilić as a central defender.[16] After the departure of the latter in the summer, he started alongside Brazilian Fabrício. He scored his first official goal for the team on 22 August 2015, helping to a 3–1 away victory over Borac Čačak.[17]

Ural

On 30 December 2016, Balažic signed for two and a half years with Russian Premier League club Ural Yekaterinburg.[18] On 7 June 2019, he left upon the expiration of his contract.[19]

International career

Balažic made his senior debut for Slovenia on 19 November 2013, in a 1–0 friendly win against Canada in Celje.[20] His second cap came on 7 June of the following year in another friendly, a 2–0 loss to Argentina in La Plata.[21]

Style of play

Balažic is a quick and strong player, technically gifted and with passing ability.[22] Oleg Kononov, his coach at Karpaty, described him as a "very intelligent player" with a "great potential".[23]

Career statistics

Club

[24]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Mura2004–05Slovenian PrvaLiga1000—10
Águilas2007–08Segunda División B2000—20
Gorica2007–08Slovenian PrvaLiga9000—90
2008–091803020230
2009–102913020341
2010–111613020211
Total7229060872
Karpaty Lviv2010–11Ukrainian Premier League51——51
2011–121904020250
2012–1317120—191
2013–1425120—271
2014–1513420—154
Total79710020917
Partizan2014–15Serbian SuperLiga13030—160
2015–161011090201
2016–171500000150
Total3814090511
Ural2016–17Russian Premier League11030—140
2017–1820200—202
2018–1917000—170
Total4823000512
Enosis Neon2019–20Cypriot First Division8010—90
2020–2136110—371
Total4412000461
Career total2841328017032913

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[25]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Slovenia201310
201410
Total20

Honours

Partizan

2014–15[26]

2015–16

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gregor Balazic. Eurosport. 27 March 2020. 17 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151017081728/http://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/gregor-balazic_prs218869/person.shtml. live.
  2. Web site: Mencinger . Žan . Balažic odslej v novi vlogi, z igrišča se seli v pisarno . Slovenski nogometni portal . 27 May 2023 . sl-SI . 27 May 2023.
  3. News: Eslovenos a caminho. Slovenes on their way. Record. pt. 26 June 2005. 27 March 2020. 27 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327034513/https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/benfica/detalhe/eslovenos-a-caminho. live.
  4. News: Anderson de volta aos treinos. Anderson back to training. Record. pt. 15 November 2006. 27 March 2020. 27 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327034512/https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-nos/benfica/detalhe/anderson-de-volta-aos-treinos. live.
  5. Web site: Balazic, internacional eslovè, fitxa pel "B". Balazic, Slovenian international, signs for "B". RCD Espanyol. ca. 7 June 2007. 6 February 2015. 13 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210713090655/https://www.rcdespanyol.com/?modulo=detalleNoticia&idnoticia=2632&idmenu=29. live.
  6. Web site: Balazic, última incorporación. Balazic, last addition. La Actualidad. es. 30 August 2007. 6 February 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031443/http://www.la-actualidad.com/articulo/08302007/balazic-ultima-incorporacion/. live.
  7. Web site: Balazic lesionado. Balazic injured. Águilas Noticias. es. 19 October 2007. 6 February 2015. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233743/http://www.aguilasnoticias.com/index.php?%2Fnoticias%2Fleer%2F8813%2F8%2F0. live.
  8. Web site: Balazic se marcha del Águilas CF. Balazic leaves Águilas CF. Águilas Noticias. es. 20 December 2007. 6 February 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041344/http://www.aguilasnoticias.com/index.php?%2Fnoticias%2Fleer%2F9314%2F8%2F0. live.
  9. News: http://ua.tribuna.com/football/1033203785.html. ru:Ігор Дедишин: "У Димінського диктаторський склад характеру". Igor Dedishin: "The outline of Dyminsky's dictatorial nature". Tribuna. ru. 22 September 2015. 26 March 2016. 1 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160801064707/http://ua.tribuna.com/football/1033203785.html. live.
  10. Web site: http://football.ua/ukraine/news/123112.html. uk:Карпаты спасаются в Киеве. Carpathians flee in Kiev. Football UA. uk. 6 March 2011. 16 July 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110827172736/http://football.ua/ukraine/news/123112.html. 27 August 2011. dmy-all.
  11. Web site: Hoverla Uzhhorod 2:2 Karpaty. Soccer Vista. 27 July 2014. 16 July 2015. 17 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150717003826/http://www.soccervista.com/Hoverla_Uzhhorod-Karpaty-1760420-1760420.html. live.
  12. Web site: Gregor Balažic stigao u Humsku. Gregor Balažic arrived at Humsku. FK Partizan. sr. 4 February 2015. 6 February 2015. 30 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150630202415/http://www.sr.partizan.rs/104996-gregor-balazic-stigao-u-humsku/. dead.
  13. Web site: Štoper besan na arbitra Mažić nas je pokrao!. Central defender angry referee Mažić robbed us!. Informer. sr. 25 April 2015. 25 April 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150429201401/http://beta.informer.rs/sport/partizan/12291/STOPER-BESAN-NA-ARBITRA-Mazic-nas-je-pokrao. 29 April 2015. dmy-all.
  14. Web site: Balažic: Bio je penal, priznajem. Balažic: It was a penalty, I admit it. Vesti Online. sr. 3 May 2015. 3 May 2015. 1 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151001173912/http://www.vesti-online.com/Sport/Fudbal/490104/Balazic-Bio-je-penal-priznajem. live.
  15. Web site: Video: Da li je Vojvodina oštećena protiv Partizana?. Video: Was Vojvodina hurt against Partizan?. Vesti Online. sr. 3 May 2015. 3 May 2015. 5 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150505211822/http://www.vesti-online.com/Sport/Fudbal/489601/VIDEO-Da-li-je-Vojvodina-ostecena-protiv-Partizana. live.
  16. Web site: Ilić i Balažic: I dalje samo od nas zavisi. Ilić and Balažic: It's still up to us. Radio Television of Vojvodina. sr. 5 March 2015. 27 March 2020. 27 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200327041455/http://www.rtv.rs/sr_lat/sport/fudbal/ilic-i-balazic-i-dalje-samo-od-nas-zavisi_574863.html. live.
  17. Web site: Partizan osvojio prve bodove u gostima!. Partizan won the first away points. Mondo. sr. 22 August 2015. 22 August 2015. 24 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150824163731/http://mondo.rs/a823234/Sport/Fudbal/Borac-Partizan-UZIVO-7.-kolo-Superlige.html. live.
  18. Web site: http://www.fc-ural.ru/main/news/ural/5229/. ru:«УРАЛ» ЗАКЛЮЧИЛ КОНТРАКТ С ЗАЩИТНИКОМ ИЗ СЛОВЕНИИ. Ural signed a contract with defender from Slovenia. Ural Yekaterinburg. ru. 30 December 2016. 30 December 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170513040643/http://www.fc-ural.ru/main/news/ural/5229/. 13 May 2017.
  19. Web site: http://fc-ural.ru/novosti/glavnaya-komanda/ural-pokinuli-tri-futbolista. ru:«Урал» покинули три футболиста. Three footballers left Ural. Ural Yekaterinburg. ru. 7 June 2019. 7 June 2019. 7 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190607143821/http://fc-ural.ru/novosti/glavnaya-komanda/ural-pokinuli-tri-futbolista. live.
  20. Web site: Slovenia 1–0 Canada. UEFA. 19 November 2013. 27 March 2016. 13 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210713090628/https://www.uefa.com/errors/. live.
  21. Web site: Argentina 2–0 Slovenia. BBC Sport. 7 June 2014. 27 March 2016. 19 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160419030151/http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27383488. live.
  22. Web site: http://www.fckarpaty.lviv.ua/ua/news/5672/page.html. uk:"Бажаю якомога швидше вийти на поле львівського стадіону". I wish you could enter this stadium as soon as possible. Karpaty Lviv. uk. 23 January 2011. 28 March 2016. 5 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160405111545/http://www.fckarpaty.lviv.ua/ua/news/5672/page.html. live.
  23. Web site: http://www.fckarpaty.lviv.ua/ua/news/5673/page.html. uk:"Балажіц може суттєво зміцнити нашу оборону". Balažic can improve our defenses dramatically. Karpaty Lviv. uk. 23 January 2011. 28 March 2016. 22 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160422113913/http://www.fckarpaty.lviv.ua/ua/news/5673/page.html. live.
  24. Web site: G. Balažic. Soccerway. 7 June 2014. 18 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140418143618/http://int.soccerway.com/players/gregor-balazic/35124/. live.
  25. Web site: Gregor Balažic, international footballer . eu-football.info . 14 January 2022 . en.
  26. Web site: G. Balažic – Trophies. Soccerway. 6 November 2015. 9 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151109113659/http://int.soccerway.com/players/gregor-balazic/35124/. live.

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