Cristian Bălașa

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Cristian Bălașa

| image =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1972|12|27|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Pucioasa, Romania

| height = {{convert|1.71|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Chindia Târgoviște (team manager)

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1995–1997 |clubs1 = Chindia Târgoviște |caps1 = 69 |goals1 = 10

| years2 = 1998–2003 |clubs2 = Argeș Pitești |caps2 = 162 |goals2 = 18

| years3 = 2003–2004 |clubs3 = Farul Constanța |caps3 = 24 |goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2004 |clubs4 = FC Oradea |caps4 = 13 |goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2005–2006 |clubs5 = FCM Târgoviște |caps5 = 25 |goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2006–2010 |clubs6 = Concordia Chiajna |caps6 = 53 |goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2018 |clubs7 = Aninoasa |caps7 = |goals7 =

| totalcaps = 346 | totalgoals = 34

| manageryears1 = 2012 | managerclubs1 = AS Doiceşti

| manageryears2 = 2012–2013 | managerclubs2 = Concordia II Chiajna

| manageryears3 = 2013–2015 | managerclubs3 = Viitorul Constanța (assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2015–2016 | managerclubs4 = Chindia Târgoviște (sporting director)

| manageryears5 = 2016–2019 | managerclubs5 = Aninoasa

| manageryears6 = 2019–2024 | managerclubs6 = Concordia Chiajna (sporting director)

| manageryears7 = 2024 | managerclubs7 = Concordia Chiajna (assistant)

| manageryears8 = 2024– | managerclubs8 = Chindia Târgoviște (team manager)

| pcupdate =

| ntupdate =

}}

Cristian Bălașa (born 27 December 1972) is a Romanian professional football manager and former football player, currently team manager at Liga II club Chindia Târgoviște.{{cite web |url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-2/laurentiu-dinita-s-a-inteles-cu-concordia-chiajna-obiectiv-revenirea-imediata-in-liga-1-568943.html |title=Laurențiu Diniță s-a înțeles cu Concordia Chiajna |trans-title=Laurențiu Diniță comes to an understanding with Concordia Chiajna |newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=Romanian|accessdate=7 June 2019 |date=6 June 2019}}

Club career

Bălașa made his Divizia A debut on 31 July 1996, for Chindia Târgoviște, in a 1–0 win against Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț. He also played for Argeș Pitești, Farul Constanța, FC Oradea and Concordia Chiajna before retiring in 2010.

In February 2018, Bălașa decided to play again for the team that he also managed, FC Aninoasa.[http://fcaninoasa.ro/ultimele-noutati-la-fc-aninoasa-cristi-balasa-si-cosmin-lunescu-revin-in-iarba/ Ultimele noutăți la FC Aninoasa! Cristi Bălașa și Cosmin Lunescu revin în iarbă]{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. fcaninoasa.ro {{in lang|ro}}

Managerial career

In 2012, Bălașa started his coaching career, managing lower league clubs such as AS Doiceşti, Concordia II Chiajna and Aninoasa, and was also Gheorghe Hagi's assistant coach at Viitorul Constanța for two seasons.[http://www.gazetadambovitei.ro/top-stiri/revine-pe-banca-cristian-balasa-foarte-aproape-de-prelua-conducerea-tehnica-aninoasei/ Revine pe bancă! Cristian Bălaşa, foarte aproape de a prelua conducerea tehnică a Aninoasei]. gazetadambovitei.ro {{in lang|ro}} From 2015 to 2016 he was the sporting director of Chindia Târgoviște.[http://www.jurnaldedambovita.ro/jdb_articol--cristi-balasa-director-sportiv-la-chindia,31509.html Cristi Bălaşa, director sportiv la Chindia]. jurnaldedambovita.ro {{in lang|ro}}

Personal life

His son, Mihai Bălașa, is also a football player.[http://evz.ro/cristi-balasa-despre-fiul-sau-sper-sa-ma-depaseasca-1019834.html Cristi Bălaşa, despre fiul său: "Sper să mă depăşească"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219045616/http://evz.ro/cristi-balasa-despre-fiul-sau-sper-sa-ma-depaseasca-1019834.html |date=19 December 2017 }}. evz.ro {{in lang|ro}}