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Gregor Balažic

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Gregor Balažic
Balažic with Ural in 2017
Personal information
Full name Gregor Balažic[1]
Date of birth (1988-02-12) 12 February 1988 (age 36)[1]
Place of birth Murska Sobota, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
0000–2005 Mura
2005–2007 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005 Mura 1 (0)
2007 Espanyol B 0 (0)
2007 Águilas 2 (0)
2008–2010 Gorica 72 (2)
2011–2014 Karpaty Lviv 79 (7)
2015–2016 Partizan 38 (1)
2017–2019 Ural Yekaterinburg 48 (2)
2020–2021 Enosis Neon 44 (1)
2022–2023 Mura 34 (2)
Total 318 (15)
International career
2004 Slovenia U17 3 (0)
2006 Slovenia U19 3 (0)
2007–2010 Slovenia U20 6 (0)
2007–2010 Slovenia U21 19 (0)
2013–2014 Slovenia 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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

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Early career

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Club

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As of 1 January 2022[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mura 2004–05 Slovenian PrvaLiga 1 0 0 0 — 1 0
Águilas 2007–08 Segunda División B 2 0 0 0 — 2 0
Gorica 2007–08 Slovenian PrvaLiga 9 0 0 0 — 9 0
2008–09 18 0 3 0 2 0 23 0
2009–10 29 1 3 0 2 0 34 1
2010–11 16 1 3 0 2 0 21 1
Total 72 2 9 0 6 0 87 2
Karpaty Lviv 2010–11 Ukrainian Premier League 5 1 — — 5 1
2011–12 19 0 4 0 2 0 25 0
2012–13 17 1 2 0 — 19 1
2013–14 25 1 2 0 — 27 1
2014–15 13 4 2 0 — 15 4
Total 79 7 10 0 2 0 91 7
Partizan 2014–15 Serbian SuperLiga 13 0 3 0 — 16 0
2015–16 10 1 1 0 9 0 20 1
2016–17 15 0 0 0 0 0 15 0
Total 38 1 4 0 9 0 51 1
Ural 2016–17 Russian Premier League 11 0 3 0 — 14 0
2017–18 20 2 0 0 — 20 2
2018–19 17 0 0 0 — 17 0
Total 48 2 3 0 0 0 51 2
Enosis Neon 2019–20 Cypriot First Division 8 0 1 0 — 9 0
2020–21 36 1 1 0 — 37 1
Total 44 1 2 0 0 0 46 1
Career total 284 13 28 0 17 0 329 13

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year[25]
National team Year Apps Goals
Slovenia 2013 1 0
2014 1 0
Total 2 0

Honours

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Partizan

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Gregor Balazic". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  2. ^ Mencinger, Žan (27 May 2023). "Balažic odslej v novi vlogi, z igrišča se seli v pisarno". Slovenski nogometni portal (in Slovenian). Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Eslovenos a caminho" [Slovenes on their way]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 June 2005. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  4. ^ "Anderson de volta aos treinos" [Anderson back to training]. Record (in Portuguese). 15 November 2006. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Balazic, internacional eslovè, fitxa pel "B"" [Balazic, Slovenian international, signs for "B"] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 7 June 2007. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Balazic, última incorporación" [Balazic, last addition] (in Spanish). La Actualidad. 30 August 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Balazic lesionado" [Balazic injured] (in Spanish). Águilas Noticias. 19 October 2007. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  8. ^ "Balazic se marcha del Águilas CF" [Balazic leaves Águilas CF] (in Spanish). Águilas Noticias. 20 December 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  9. ^ Ігор Дедишин: "У Димінського диктаторський склад характеру" [Igor Dedishin: "The outline of Dyminsky's dictatorial nature"]. Tribuna (in Russian). 22 September 2015. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  10. ^ Карпаты спасаются в Киеве [Carpathians flee in Kiev] (in Ukrainian). Football UA. 6 March 2011. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Hoverla Uzhhorod 2:2 Karpaty". Soccer Vista. 27 July 2014. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Gregor Balažic stigao u Humsku" [Gregor Balažic arrived at Humsku] (in Serbian). FK Partizan. 4 February 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  13. ^ "Štoper besan na arbitra Mažić nas je pokrao!" [Central defender angry referee Mažić robbed us!] (in Serbian). Informer. 25 April 2015. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Balažic: Bio je penal, priznajem" [Balažic: It was a penalty, I admit it] (in Serbian). Vesti Online. 3 May 2015. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  15. ^ "Video: Da li je Vojvodina oštećena protiv Partizana?" [Video: Was Vojvodina hurt against Partizan?] (in Serbian). Vesti Online. 3 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  16. ^ "Ilić i Balažic: I dalje samo od nas zavisi" [Ilić and Balažic: It's still up to us] (in Serbian). Radio Television of Vojvodina. 5 March 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Partizan osvojio prve bodove u gostima!" [Partizan won the first away points] (in Serbian). Mondo. 22 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  18. ^ «УРАЛ» ЗАКЛЮЧИЛ КОНТРАКТ С ЗАЩИТНИКОМ ИЗ СЛОВЕНИИ [Ural signed a contract with defender from Slovenia] (in Russian). Ural Yekaterinburg. 30 December 2016. Archived from the original on 13 May 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  19. ^ «Урал» покинули три футболиста [Three footballers left Ural] (in Russian). Ural Yekaterinburg. 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Slovenia 1–0 Canada". UEFA. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 13 July 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  21. ^ "Argentina 2–0 Slovenia". BBC Sport. 7 June 2014. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
  22. ^ "Бажаю якомога швидше вийти на поле львівського стадіону" [I wish you could enter this stadium as soon as possible] (in Ukrainian). Karpaty Lviv. 23 January 2011. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  23. ^ "Балажіц може суттєво зміцнити нашу оборону" [Balažic can improve our defenses dramatically] (in Ukrainian). Karpaty Lviv. 23 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  24. ^ "G. Balažic". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  25. ^ "Gregor Balažic, international footballer". eu-football.info. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  26. ^ "G. Balažic – Trophies". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
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