Eli Babalj

Eli Babalj (born 21 February 1992) is a footballer who plays as a striker.^[1] 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).^[2]

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.^[3] He made his debut for the club in a friendly against Geelong All Stars XI and also scored his first goal in that match.^[4] He also took part in the friendly against Everton FC in which Heart lost 2–0.^[5] 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.^[6] During May 2012 it was announced that Serbian side Red Star Belgrade was scouting him.^[7]

Red Star Belgrade

On 7 June 2012 it was announced he had signed with Serbian Superliga contender Red Star Belgrade.^[8][9] 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.^[10]

Loan to PEC Zwolle

On 2 February 2015, Babalj was sent on loan at PEC Zwolle for the rest of the season.^[11] 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.^[12][13] 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.^[14]

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.^[15]

Mladá Boleslav

On 7 August 2017, Babalj signed with Czech club Mladá Boleslav.^[16]

ATK

Babalj signed with Indian Super League club ATK for the 2018–19 season.^[17] 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.^[18]

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.^[19] 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.^[20] He made his debut for Australia's senior team on 14 November 2012 in a friendly against South Korea.^[21] 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.^[22]

Career statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Babalj goal.

Honours

Adelaide United

• A-League Premiers: 2015–16
• A-League Championship: 2015–16

Australia U-20

• AFC U-20 Asian Cup: runner-up 2010^[25]
• AFF U-19 Youth Championship: 2010

References

1. ^ "Eli Babalj signs with Jets". a-league.com.au. Archived 12 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
2. ^ Smithies, Tom. "World Cup qualifiers: Harry Souttar poised to become second-tallest Socceroo in clash against Kuwait". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
3. ^ "Giant striker Babalj has plenty of heart". Canberra Times. 26 December 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.^{[dead link]}
4. ^ "Heart Overcome Energetic Eagles To Wrap Up Westpac Festival". Melbourne Heart FC. 18 June 2010. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
5. ^ "Melbourne Heart show plenty of ticker in 2–0 loss to Everton". Herald Sun. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
6. ^ Rielly, Stephen (6 August 2010). "Central Coast Mariners deny Melbourne Heart house-warming party". The Australian. Archived 7 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
7. ^ Ilija Babalj pred Marakanom Archived 25 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine at Kurir, retrieved 30-5-2012 (in Serbian)
8. ^ http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/melbourneheart/news-display/Heart-Confirms-Babalj-To-Red-Star-Transfer/47661 ^{[dead link]}
9. ^ Red Star sign Australian hope Eli Babalj Archived 10 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine; Footballcracy, 8 June 2012
10. ^ "Topics | Daily Telegraph"
11. ^ PEC Zwolle strikt bij AZ overbodige aanvaller, komst Necid uitgesloten Archived 3 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Dutch). Voetbalprimeur. 2 February 2015.
12. ^ "Reds secure Babalj on season long loan". Adelaide United FC. 26 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
13. ^ "AZ verhuurt Babalj aan Adelaide United". AZ. 24 July 2015. Archived 24 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
14. ^ "Injury blow: Reds striker suffers ruptured ACL". Archived 14 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
15. ^ "Reds sign former Korean international". FourFourTwo. 7 February 2017. Archived 7 February 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
16. ^ Somerford, Ben (7 August 2017). "Babalj deal done, could debut tonight". FourFourTwo. Archived 7 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
17. ^ "ISL 2018–19: Steve Coppell – ATK relishing the challenge to break down Mumbai City's defence | Goal.com". Archived 28 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
18. ^ "Eli Babalj signs with Jets | A-League". Archived 12 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
19. ^ "Qantas Young Socceroos defeat Chinese Taipei". Football Federation Australia. 10 November 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
20. ^ "Young Socceroos Clinch AFF Title". Four Four Two. 31 July 2010. Archived from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2010.
21. ^ [1] Archived 18 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine Zurnal (Serbian): Бабаљ умало стрелац за Кенгуре на дебију – 14 November 2012.
22. ^ Sportske (Serbian) – Babalj dva puta u metu... Archived 10 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine 8 December 2012
23. ^
24. ^ "Guam vs. Australia". National Football Teams. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
25. ^ "Alex Pearson selected in Qantas Young Socceroos squad". 20 September 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2025.

External links

• Voetbal International profile (in Dutch)