Gabi Balint

Gavril Pele "Gabi" Balint (born 3 January 1963 in Sângeorz-Băi, Bistrița-Năsăud, Romania) is a Romanian football manager and former player.

Club career

Born in Sângeorz-Băi, Bistrița Balint made his Divizia A debut with Steaua București in 1981 where he played until 1990 winning the league title in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989, the Romanian Cup in 1985, 1987, 1988 and 1989, the 1985–86 European Cup in 1986 and the European Super Cup in 1987. At the end of the 1989–90 season Balint became top goalscorer of Divizia A with 19 goals. He scored the second and last goal at the penalties shoot-out during the 1986 European Cup final, helping his team, Steaua to win the trophy.

In 1990, he was bought by Real Burgos for $ 1,000,000. He played for the Spanish side until his retirement in 1993.

International career

Balint was capped 34 times by Romania, and scored 14 goals. He played at the 1990 World Cup where he scored twice, against Cameroon and Argentina.

International goals

Romania's goal tally first.

Managerial career

Balint started his coaching career in 1994, aged 31, when he was appointed as assistant coach of Romania under Anghel Iordănescu's regime. Four years later comes his first chance as head coach after taking the charge at Sportul Studențesc, but in May 2000 he is called again to join the coaching team of Romania as the squad prepared for the UEFA Euro 2000.

In the summer of 2000 Balint was requested by Mircea Lucescu as his assistant to Galatasaray, however left the job after only one season, to join again Romania as assistant coach, this time under Gheorghe Hagi's regime.

After Hagi resigned, Balint went to Sheriff Tiraspol for his second job as head coach, taking the team in 2002.

In 2003, he returned to Romania and signed to Sportul Studențesc, now in Liga II but helped the team win promotion back to Liga I.

Balint returned as assistant coach to Galatasaray in 2004 to work again with Gheorghe Hagi.

In 2005, he was appointed assistant coach of FCU Politehnica Timișoara, working again with Hagi. When Hagi left, a few months later, Balint resigned also. Two years later, Balint returned to FC Timișoara, this time as a head coach.

In 2010, he became head coach of the Moldova national team, but after the campaign for the UEFA Euro 2012, his contract ended and wasn't renewed. He then became television pundit, signing a contract with Digi Sport.

In April 2013, Balint returned to coaching, singning a contract for one and a half years with FC Vaslui.

Career statistics

• Divizia A: 264 games, 70 goals
• La Liga: 83 games, 28 goals
• European Cup: 30 games, 6 goals
• Cup Winners' Cup: 2 games, 0 goals
• Romania national football team: 34 caps, 14 goals

As a manager

Honours

As a player

• Steaua Bucureşti
  • Liga 1:
    • Winner: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89
  • Romanian Cup:
    • Winner: 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89
  • European Cup:
    • Winner: 1985–86
    • Runner-up: 1988–89
  • European Super Cup:
    • Winner: 1986
  • Intercontinental Cup:
    • Runner-up: 1986

• Romania U-20
  • 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship 3rd-Place

Trivia

• Balint has a passion for music and Harley Davidson. He even produced his own CD.

References

External links

• Balint's Official site
• RomanianSoccer.ro – profile and stats
• BDFutbol profile