Gabi Balint


Gavril Pele "Gabi" Balint is a former Romanian professional football manager and former player, who is currently a television sport pundit for Digi Sport.
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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 titles in 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989, the Romanian Cup in 1985, 1987 and 1989, the 1985–86 European Cup and the European Super Cup in 1987. At the end of the 1989–90 season, Balint became the top goalscorer of the 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 [FIFA World Cup|1990 World Cup] where he scored twice, against Cameroon and Argentina.

Career statistics

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
129 July 1984Stadionul 23 August, Iași, Romania4–04–2Friendly
231 July 1984Stadionul Municipal, Buzău, Romania1–01–0Friendly
315 November 1989Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania1–13–11990 [FIFA World Cup qualification]
415 November 1989Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania3–13–1World Cup qualification">FIFA World Cup">World Cup qualification
528 March 1990Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt2–03–1Friendly
628 March 1990Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt3–13–1Friendly
725 April 1990Kiryat Eliezer Stadium, Haifa, Israel4–14–1Friendly
814 June 1990Stadio San Nicola, Bari, Italy1–21–21990 FIFA World Cup
918 June 1990Stadio San Paolo, Napoli, Italy1–11–11990 FIFA World Cup
1017 April 1991Estadio Príncipe Felipe, Cáceres, Spain2–02–0Friendly
116 May 1992Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania1–07–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
126 May 1992Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania4–07–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
136 May 1992Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania7–07–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
1420 May 1992Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest, Romania4–05–11994 FIFA World Cup qualification

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 charge at Sportul Studențesc, but in May 2000 he is called again to join the coaching staff 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 for Galatasaray, however he left the job after only one season, to join again Romania as assistant coach, this time under Gheorghe Hagi.
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 for Sportul Studențesc, now in Divizia B and helped the team win promotion back to Divizia A.
Balint returned as assistant coach for 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 the head coach of the Moldova national team, but after the campaign for the UEFA Euro 2012, his contract ended and was not renewed. He then became a television pundit, signing a contract with Digi Sport.
In April 2013, Balint returned to coaching, signing a contract for one and a half years with FC Vaslui. In 2014 he was named head coach of Liga II side CS Universitatea Craiova and helped the club win promotion for the top-flight Liga I.

Trivia

  • Balint has a passion for music and Harley Davidson. He even produced his own CD.
  • He is named Pele because his father was a fan of the three time World Cup winner Pelé.

Honours

Player

Steaua București
Romania U20
Individual

Coach

Sheriff Tiraspol
Sportul Studențesc
Universitatea Craiova