Stipe Balajić
Encyclopedia
Stipe Balajić is a former Croatia
n football
midfielder, who also played as a defender
, and current RNK Split
assistant coach.
. In 1992 he played for NK Zadar
where he played in Croatian first division, Prva HNL. During the next season he signed for Croatian giants HNK Hajduk Split
where he played until 1994 when he returned to Zadar where he stayed for couple of months. His next stop in his career was NK Istra
where he played for a season and a half until he joined HNK Šibenik
in 1997. In total Balajić earned 136 appearances in Croatian first division, scoring 15 goals in the process.
After time spent in Prva HNL he joined his first and only club abroad, the Slovenia
n side NK Maribor
where he had his best years. He played in Maribor for 8 seasons up until his retirement in 2005. During his time in Maribor he earned a status of club legend and is considered as one of the best players that ever played for the violets. In 2002 he almost left the club but then returned after two months to help the team that already had financial difficulties at that time. According to his wishes he has played the first part of the season without payment from the club. In his last couple of seasons he was also the team captain.
He had his best moments in Maribor during the 1999/00 season when he led the team through qualifications for the elite UEFA Champions League where the team eventually qualified and played in. Balajić scored an important goal in the second leg of the third qualifying round against French
giants Olympique Lyonnais
, which was won by Maribor 3-0 aggregate. He then played for the team in group stages and scored one of two Maribor goals in the process, against Ukraine
side FC Dynamo Kyiv
. NK Maribor won four points and finished last in Group A.
Balajić finished his career as a player in 2005 when he has played his last match for Maribor in a friendly against Hajduk Split. He played his last match for the first 19 minutes of the match and was then substituted, with standing ovations from the crowd. In his honour the club has retired the jersey with the number 19, the only number to be retired in history of NK Maribor until now. He has earned a total of 175 appearances for Maribor in Slovenian first league, 1.SNL where he scored 29 goals in the process. Balajić is one of the most capped player in history of NK Maribor, having played a total of 229 official matches where he scored 37 goals.
team NK Zagora Unešić
. After finishing the season on second place he took the job as a head coach of 2nd HNL team NK Solin
where he stayed until 2010.
Currently he is an assistant coach in Croatian first division club RNK Split
.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
midfielder, who also played as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, and current RNK Split
RNK Split
RNK Split is a Croatian football club based in the city of Split.-History:Radnički nogometni klub means "Workers' football club".The club was known as workers' club. The club had a strong fanbase in the Split's shipyard...
assistant coach.
Club career
Balajić began his career in NK Junak SinjNK Junak Sinj
NK Junak Sinj, commonly referred to as Junak Sinj or just Junak is a Croatian football club based in the town of Sinj, in the southern Croatian region of Dalmatia. They currently compete in Druga HNL, Croatian second level. Junak play their home matches at the 3,096-capacity Gradski stadion Sinj...
. In 1992 he played for NK Zadar
NK Zadar
NK Zadar is a Croatian football club based in Zadar, a city on the Adriatic coast. The club was founded in 1945.Josip Skoblar, Đovani Roso, Dado Pršo and Luka Modrić, are among their most notable former players....
where he played in Croatian first division, Prva HNL. During the next season he signed for Croatian giants HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split
HNK Hajduk Split, commonly referred to as Hajduk Split or simply Hajduk, is a Croatian football club founded in 1911 and based in the city of Split. The club's home ground since 1979 is the 35,000-seater Poljud Stadium and the team's traditional home colours are white shirts with blue shorts and...
where he played until 1994 when he returned to Zadar where he stayed for couple of months. His next stop in his career was NK Istra
NK Istra
NK Istra is a Croatian football club, from city of Pula. The club currently plays in the Treća HNL but Istra has also played in Prva HNL .Istra was found in 1961 from a merger of NK Pula and NK Uljanik.-Seasons:...
where he played for a season and a half until he joined HNK Šibenik
HNK Šibenik
HNK Šibenik is a Croatian football club based in the city of Šibenik on the Croatian coast.The club was formed in 1932. In 2006 the club finished first in the Croatian Second League's southern division and was promoted to the Prva HNL...
in 1997. In total Balajić earned 136 appearances in Croatian first division, scoring 15 goals in the process.
After time spent in Prva HNL he joined his first and only club abroad, the Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
n side NK Maribor
NK Maribor
Nogometni Klub Maribor , commonly referred to as NK Maribor or simply Maribor, is a professional association football club based in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Founded on 12 December, 1960, Maribor is one of only three football clubs in the country who have never been relegated from...
where he had his best years. He played in Maribor for 8 seasons up until his retirement in 2005. During his time in Maribor he earned a status of club legend and is considered as one of the best players that ever played for the violets. In 2002 he almost left the club but then returned after two months to help the team that already had financial difficulties at that time. According to his wishes he has played the first part of the season without payment from the club. In his last couple of seasons he was also the team captain.
He had his best moments in Maribor during the 1999/00 season when he led the team through qualifications for the elite UEFA Champions League where the team eventually qualified and played in. Balajić scored an important goal in the second leg of the third qualifying round against French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
giants Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
, which was won by Maribor 3-0 aggregate. He then played for the team in group stages and scored one of two Maribor goals in the process, against Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
side FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...
. NK Maribor won four points and finished last in Group A.
Balajić finished his career as a player in 2005 when he has played his last match for Maribor in a friendly against Hajduk Split. He played his last match for the first 19 minutes of the match and was then substituted, with standing ovations from the crowd. In his honour the club has retired the jersey with the number 19, the only number to be retired in history of NK Maribor until now. He has earned a total of 175 appearances for Maribor in Slovenian first league, 1.SNL where he scored 29 goals in the process. Balajić is one of the most capped player in history of NK Maribor, having played a total of 229 official matches where he scored 37 goals.
Coaching career
After his football career he turned into coaching. He started his coaching career as an assistant coach. His first job as a head coach started in 2007 when he accepted the offer from 3rd HNLTreća HNL
The Croatian Third Football League is the third tier of the football league system in Croatia. The league was established in 1991 following the dissolution of the Yugoslav League. It is operated by the Croatian Football Federation.-Subdivisions:...
team NK Zagora Unešić
NK Zagora Unešic
NK Zagora Unešić is a Croatian football club based in Unešić, a small town located in Šibenik-Knin County of Croatia.The club currently plays in the Treća HNL, which is the third tier league in the Croatian football league system....
. After finishing the season on second place he took the job as a head coach of 2nd HNL team NK Solin
NK Solin
NK Solin is a Croatian football club based in the town of Solin, near Split.-League and Cup results:-External links:* at Nogometni magazin...
where he stayed until 2010.
Currently he is an assistant coach in Croatian first division club RNK Split
RNK Split
RNK Split is a Croatian football club based in the city of Split.-History:Radnički nogometni klub means "Workers' football club".The club was known as workers' club. The club had a strong fanbase in the Split's shipyard...
.