Eli Babalj (born 21 February 1992) is a footballer who plays as a striker. Born in Sarajevo, he has represented Australia at international level. Alongside Robert Cornthwaite and Sasa Ognenovski, Babalj, at 1.95 m is the joint third tallest player to have represented the Australia national association football team, behind Zeljko Kalac (2.02 m) and Harry Souttar (1.98 m).
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. He made his debut for the club in a friendly against Geelong All Stars XI 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 2010–11 A-League season against Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park. During May 2012 it was announced that Serbian side Red Star Belgrade was scouting him.Ilija Babalj pred Marakanom at Kurir, retrieved 30-5-2012
Red Star Belgrade On 7 June 2012 it was announced he had signed with Serbian Superliga contender Red Star Belgrade.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 He made his debut on 31 August 2012, against Bordeaux in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League play-off round. He scored his first goal on his league debut against FK Smederevo on 29 September 2012.
Melbourne Heart 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.
Loan to PEC Zwolle On 2 February 2015, Babalj was sent on loan at PEC Zwolle for the rest of the season.PEC Zwolle strikt bij AZ overbodige aanvaller, komst Necid uitgesloten (Dutch). Voetbalprimeur. 2 February 2015. Eli Babalj made his Eredivisie debut for PEC Zwolle at home to the Go Ahead Eagles on 15 February 2015 as a 70th-minute substitute for Maikel van der Werff.
Loan to Adelaide United On 24 July 2015, Alkmaar confirmed that they would allow Babalj to go out on loan back to Australia to Adelaide United for the 2015–16 A-League season. This would be Guillermo Amor's first signing for Adelaide as the new manager. Babalj made his debut for Adelaide United as a substitute in the 2015 FFA Cup in Darwin against Darwin Olympic. He also scored his first goal to help Adelaide to a 6–1 win.
On 22 January 2016, Babalj ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Brisbane Roar, ruling him out for the remainder of the A-League season.
Adelaide United On 7 February 2017, after training with Adelaide United since late January, Babalj joined Adelaide United once more until the end of the season.
Mladá Boleslav On 7 August 2017, Babalj signed with Czech club Mladá Boleslav.
ATK Babalj signed with Indian Super League club ATK for the 2018–19 season. He made his first appearance on 28 November 2018 against FC Goa, coming on as a substitute in the 68th minute. The match ended 0–0.
Newcastle Jets
On 12 October 2021, after stint's with Brisbane Roar and Chainat Hornbill Babalj returned to Australia and signed with Newcastle Jets for the 2021-22 A-League Men season after a successful trial at the club.
International career He has represented Australia at U-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 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. He made his debut for Australia's senior team on 14 November 2012 in a friendly against South Korea. Zurnal (Serbian): Бабаљ умало стрелац за Кенгуре на дебију – 14 November 2012. Babalj was selected in the Socceroos 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.Sportske (Serbian) – Babalj dva puta u metu... 8 December 2012
Career statistics Club
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsMelbourne Heart2010–11A-League13200001322011–122290000229Melbourne Heart total351100003511Red Star Belgrade2012–13SuperLiga61101081Melbourne Heart2012–13A-League91000091AZ Alkmaar2013–14Eredivisie000000002014–1500000000PEC Zwolle (loan)2014–1540000040Adelaide United (loan)2015–16A-League50310081Adelaide United 2016–17 40004181Adelaide total903141162Mladá Boleslav 2017–18 Czech First League 20100030ATK 2018–19 Indian Super League 30000030Brisbane Roar 2018–19 A-League 40000040Chainat Hornbill 2019 Thai League 1 71100081Newcastle Jets 2021–22 A-League Men 1011000111 Career total8915715110117
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsAustralia201222Total22
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Babalj goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Eli BabaljNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Hong Kong Stadium, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong2–09–02013 EAFF East Asian Cup qualification24–0
Honours Adelaide United A-League Premiers: 2015–16 A-League Championship: 2015–16
Australia U-20 AFC U-20 Asian Cup: runner-up 2010 AFF U-19 Youth Championship: 2010
References
External links Voetbal International profile