Mihai Bălașa

Mihai Alexandru Bălașa (born 14 January 1995) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays for Liga I side Sepsi OSK as a defender.

Mihai Bălașa
Bălașa captaining FCSB in 2017
Personal information
Full name Mihai Alexandru Bălașa[1]
Date of birth (1995-01-14) 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– Sepsi OSK 39 (2)
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– Romania 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 October 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 October 2020

Club career

Viitorul Constanța

Bălașa made his professional debut for Viitorul Constanța on 20 August 2012, in a Liga I game against Gaz Metan Mediaș.[2]

Roma

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

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

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

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

Club
As of 19 October 2023[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 22110–––231
2013–14 10––––10
Total 23 1 1 0 – – – 24 1
Crotone (loan) 2014–15 240––––240
2015–16 29220–––312
Total 53 2 2 0 – – – 55 2
Trapani (loan) 2016–17 8020–––100
FCSB 2016–17 140–10––150
2017–18 23010–91–331
2018–19 20000–50–250
2019–20 4000–10–50
Total 61 0 1 0 1 0 15 1 – 78 1
Universitatea Craiova 2019–20 22310–00–233
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 6130–––91
2022–23 22141–3010302
2023–24 11010–6010190
Total 39 2 8 1 – 9 0 2 0 58 3
Career total 241 8 22 3 1 0 25 1 3 0 292 12

International
As of 15 October 2020[15]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Romania
201720
201840
201900
202020
Total80


Honours

Universitatea Craiova

Sepsi OSK

References
  1. "UEFA Nations League 2019: Booking List before League phase Matchday 5" (PDF). UEFA. 6 November 2018. p. 12. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  2. "Mihai Balasa - cel mai tanar jucator al campionatului". sport365.ro.
  3. "GAZZETTA GIALLOROSSA La Roma ufficializza Mihai B膬la葯a: ecco chi 猫". gazzettagiallorossa.it.
  4. "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.
  5. "Calciomercato Roma, per il terzino Balasa prestito al Crotone". La Gazzetta dello Sport - Tutto il rosa della vita.
  6. "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.
  7. "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.
  8. "Plzeň 1–4 FCSB". UEFA.com. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  9. "Denmark 1–1 Romania". UEFA.com. 8 October 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  10. "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.
  11. "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.
  12. "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.
  13. "Cristian Bălașa profile". Romaniansoccer. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  14. "M. Bălașa". Soccerway. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  15. "Mihai Bălașa". European Football. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
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