Eli Babalj
Encyclopedia
Eli Babalj is an Australian football (soccer) player currently playing for the Melbourne Heart in the A-League
.
Babalj has spent the majority of his life in Western 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.
expansion club Melbourne Heart had signed the then 17 year old for their inaugural A-League 2010-11 season. He made his debut for the club in a friendly against Geelong All Stars XL and also scored his first goal in that match. He also took part in the friendly against Everton FC in which Heart lost 2-0. He made his debut for Melbourne Heart in the opening round of the 2009-10 A-League season against Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park.
or the Australian national football team. 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
.
Babalj also represented Australia Under-20 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
.
:
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
.
Club career
Despite being born in Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
Babalj has spent the majority of his life in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and started off playing with Perth SC
Perth SC
Perth Soccer Club is a football club based in West Perth, Western Australia. It competes in the Football West Premier League.-Perth Italia:...
. In 2008 he was signed by Perth Glory for their Youth League
A-League National Youth League
The A-League National Youth League is an Australian national football league run in parallel to the A-League. The aim of a league is to provide a pathway for young players and state league players to play regular high-level football, and allow reserve players from senior A-League teams to remain...
team. However he was signed by the AIS for the 2009-10 season
2009–10 A-League National Youth League
The A-League National Youth League's 2009-10 season is the second season of the Australian A-League National Youth League football competition. Like the previous season, the current season runs alongside the A-League 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-LeagueA-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
expansion club Melbourne Heart had signed the then 17 year old for their inaugural A-League 2010-11 season. He made his debut for the club in a friendly against Geelong All Stars XL and also scored his first goal in that match. He also took part in the friendly against Everton FC in which Heart lost 2-0. He made his debut for Melbourne Heart in the opening round of the 2009-10 A-League season against Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park.
International career
Babalj is eligible to represent either Bosnia and Herzegovina national football teamBosnia and Herzegovina national football team
The Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team is the national football team of Bosnia and Herzegovina, governed by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
or the Australian national football team. 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
Chinese Taipei national under-20 football team
The Chinese Taipei national under-20 football team represents Chinese Taipei in youth level international football competitions and is controlled by Chinese Taipei Football Association.-See also:*Chinese Taipei national football team...
.
Babalj also represented Australia Under-20 at the AFF U-19 Youth Championship. He scored against Vietnam
Vietnam national under-20 football team
The Vietnam national under-20 football team is the youth association football team representing Vietnam in youth competitions and it's controlled by Vietnam Football Federation.-Fixtures & Results:* Vietnam's score always listed first-Current squad:...
and the winning goal in the final of the AFF U-19 Youth Championship against Thailand
Thailand national under-20 football team
The Thailand national under-20 football team is the national team for under 20 and 19 level. The team takes part in under 19 events for the AFC and ASEAN region, and if they do well in qualification, then they can go on to play in the final events at under 20 level.-Achievements:*ASEAN Football...
.
Honours
With AustraliaAustralia national football (soccer) team
The Australia national association football team represents Australia in international association football competitions. Its official nickname is the "Socceroos"...
:
- AFC U-19 Championship: 2010 (Runners-Up)
- AFF U-19 Youth Championship: 20102010 AFF U-19 Youth ChampionshipThe 2010 AFF U-19 Youth Championship was held from 24 July to 30 July 2010, hosted by Vietnam. Only four teams will be participating, two teams from member associations of the AFF along with associate member Australia, and an invitee team from the East Asian Football Federation .- Group stage...