Mihai Alexandru Bălașa (born 14 January 1995) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Liga I club Sepsi OSK.
 Bălașa captaining FCSB in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mihai Alexandru Bălașa[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 14 January 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Târgoviște, Romania | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sepsi OSK | ||
| Number | 44 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2006 | FCM Târgoviște | ||
| 2006–2007 | Concordia Chiajna | ||
| 2007–2009 | CSȘ Târgoviște | ||
| 2009–2012 | Gheorghe Hagi Academy | ||
| 2013–2014 | Roma | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2013 | Viitorul Constanța | 23 | (1) |
| 2014–2017 | Roma | 0 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | → Crotone (loan) | 53 | (2) |
| 2016–2017 | → Trapani (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | FCSB | 61 | (0) |
| 2019–2022 | Universitatea Craiova | 57 | (3) |
| 2022–2024 | Sepsi OSK | 47 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| 2011–2012 | Romania U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2012–2013 | Romania U18 | 10 | (0) |
| 2012–2014 | Romania U19 | 11 | (1) |
| 2013–2015 | Romania U21 | 9 | (2) |
| 2017–2020 | Romania | 8 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20 May 2024 | |||
Club career edit
Viitorul Constanța edit
Bălașa made his professional debut for Viitorul Constanța on 20 August 2012, in a Liga I game against Gaz Metan Mediaș.[2]
Roma edit
In August 2014, Bălașa was transferred by Italian club Roma, joining a growing Romanian contingent at the club.[3] He was part of the squad for the 2014 International Champions Cup, featuring as a second-half substitute against Internazionale.[4]
On 22 August 2014, Bălașa signed for Crotone on loan.[5] He made his debut in the 0–2 defeat to Ternana on 30 August 2014.
Bălașa joined Trapani on a season-long loan on 16 July 2016.[6]
FCSB edit
Bălașa returned to Romania in January 2017, signing a five-year contract with FCSB for an undisclosed transfer fee.[7]
On 2 August 2017, he scored the opener from a free kick in a Champions League third qualifying round 4–1 away win over Viktoria Plzeň.[8]
International career edit
Bălașa has represented Romania on many occasions at youth level.
He earned his first senior international cap for Romania in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Denmark on 8 October 2017, playing the full 90 minutes in their 1–1 away draw.[9]
Personal life edit
Bălașa's father Cristian was also a professional footballer. He played as a midfielder and scored 26 goals in 224 Divizia A matches for Chindia Târgoviște, Argeș Pitești and Farul Constanța combined.[10][11][12][13]
Career statistics edit
Club edit
- As of 11 February 2024[14]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Viitorul Constanța | 2012–13 | 22 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 23 | 1 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | 24 | 1 | |||||
| Crotone (loan) | 2014–15 | 24 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 24 | 0 | |||||
| 2015–16 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 31 | 2 | |||||
| Total | 53 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 55 | 2 | |||||
| Trapani (loan) | 2016–17 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 10 | 0 | ||||
| FCSB | 2016–17 | 14 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | – | – | 15 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 9 | 1 | – | 33 | 1 | ||||
| 2018–19 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | – | 25 | 0 | ||||
| 2019–20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 61 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 1 | – | 78 | 1 | |||
| Universitatea Craiova | 2019–20 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 23 | 3 | |||
| 2020–21 | 27 | 0 | 5 | 1 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 32 | 1 | ||||
| 2021–22 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |||
| Total | 57 | 3 | 8 | 2 | – | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 67 | 5 | |||
| Sepsi OSK | 2021–22 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | 9 | 1 | ||||
| 2022–23 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 1 | – | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 2 | |||
| 2023–24 | 19 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 1 | |||
| Total | 47 | 3 | 9 | 1 | – | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 67 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 249 | 9 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 301 | 13 | ||
International edit
- As of 15 October 2020[15]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Romania | |||
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | |
Honours edit
Universitatea Craiova
Sepsi OSK
References edit
- ^ "UEFA Nations League 2019: Booking List before League phase Matchday 5" (PDF). UEFA. 6 November 2018. p. 12. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
- ^ "Mihai Balasa - cel mai tanar jucator al campionatului". sport365.ro.
- ^ "GAZZETTA GIALLOROSSA La Roma ufficializza Mihai B膬la葯a: ecco chi 猫". gazzettagiallorossa.it.
- ^ "ROMANEWS.US / Guinness International Champions Cup. Inter vs Roma 2-0: the Nerazzurri defeat the Giallorossi in Philadelphia - ROMANEWS.US". ROMANEWS.US. Archived from the original on 2014-10-10.
- ^ "Calciomercato Roma, per il terzino Balasa prestito al Crotone". La Gazzetta dello Sport - Tutto il rosa della vita.
- ^ "Il Trapani 2016/17. Ingaggiato il difensore Balasa" (in Italian). Trapani Calcio. 16 July 2016. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "Bine ai venit, Mihai Balasa!" (in Romanian). FC Steaua București. 24 January 2017. Archived from the original on 4 July 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ "Plzeň 1–4 FCSB". UEFA.com. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ "Denmark 1–1 Romania". UEFA.com. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- ^ "Cristi Bălaşa, despre fiul său: "Sper să mă depăşească"" [Cristi Bălaşa, about his son: "I hope he will overcome me"] (in Romanian). evz.ro. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- ^ "Mihai Bălașa, tot mai aproape de Steaua. Declarația făcută de tatăl jucătorului" [Mihai Balaşa, much more closer to Steaua. Statement made by the player's father] (in Romanian). digisport.ro. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- ^ "Mihai Bălaşa, probabil cel mai puţin cunoscut fotbalist chemat de Piţurcă pentru stagiul din Spania: "E nevoie de mai mulţi tineri"" [Mihai Bălaşa, probably the least known football player called Piţurcă for the internship in Spain: "There is a need for more young people"] (in Romanian). prosport.ro. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- ^ "Cristian Bălașa profile". Romaniansoccer. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- ^ "M. Bălașa". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
- ^ "Mihai Bălașa". European Football. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
External links edit
- Mihai Bălașa at RomanianSoccer.ro (in Romanian)
- Mihai Bălașa at National-Football-Teams.com
- Mihai Bălașa – UEFA competition record (archive)