Sotiris Balafas (Greek: Σωτήρης Μπαλάφας; born 19 August 1986) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He was known for his defensive awareness, his tackling and heading skills as well as his pace and strength.[citation needed]

Sotiris Balafas
Personal information
Full name Sotirios Balafas
Date of birth (1986-08-19) 19 August 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Arta, Greece
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1998–2001 Amvrakikos Arta
2001–2002 Ethnikos Fillipiada
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 Anagennisi Artas 21 (2)
2005–2012 PAOK 108 (7)
2009–2010PAS Giannina (loan) 11 (0)
2010Ergotelis (loan) 8 (0)
2012–2014 Hoverla Uzhhorod 42 (3)
2014–2017 Veria 43 (4)
2017–2018 Kerkyra 20 (0)
2019–2021 Niki Volos 27 (0)
2022 Asteras Tripotamou
International career
2006–2009 Greece U21 13 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 August 2020

Club career

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Balafas started his career in Anagennisi Artas and became an integral part of the team at very young age. He was mostly performing the duties of a centre back in his old club in contrast to his later role at PAOK. In the summer of 2005 he was picked up by PAOK for a transfer fee of 80,000 Euros. After a while he became a first-team option. In the 2007–2008 season he was the first choice defensive midfielder for most of the season and was cooperating well with newcomer Ricardo Matias Verón.[citation needed]

Holding a secondary role in Fernando Santos's plans for the 2009–2010 season, Balafas agreed during the pre-season to move on loan to the newly promoted PAS Giannina for one year. It was reported that the main reason for his choice to play for a minor club, was the possibility to work again with his mentor Georgios Paraschos.[1]

During the 2011–12 season, after a lot of injuries among more senior players of the team, Balafas took his chances for the Europa League and after the winning goal against FC Karpaty Lviv became a fan favorite and his coach László Bölöni gave him more chances of playing time.[citation needed]

In the 2012–13 season, he decided to play abroad for the Ukrainian club Hoverla. In May 2014 he was released from the club.

On 10 September 2014, the Superleague club Veria signed Balafas on a free transfer.[2] He made his official debut against PAS Giannina during the fifth matchday of the Superleague. He scored his first goal for Veria in a 2–0 home win against Platanias as he opened the score. Balafas renewed his contract with Veria in May 2015 for two more years. His new contract is due to expire on 31 June 2017. On 22 August 2015, Balafas was injured during training. He was diagnosed with clot rupture and the estimated time of his cure was about three to four months.[3]

International career

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He has been a basic part of the Greece national under-21 football team along with former PAOK teammates Stelios Iliadis and Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, being capped for more than 10 times.

Club statistics

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Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Greece League Greek Cup Europe Total
2004–05 Anagennisi Arta Beta Ethniki 21 2 1 0 0 0 22 2
2005–06 PAOK Alpha Ethniki 17 0 1 0 4 0 22 0
2006–07 Superleague 23 2 4 0 0 0 27 2
2007–08 24 3 1 0 0 0 25 3
2008–09 23 0 3 0 0 0 26 0
2009–10 PAS Giannina 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
Ergotelis 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2010–11 PAOK 6 0 1 0 1 0 8 0
2011–12 15 2 3 0 4 1 22 3
2012–13 FC Hoverla Uzhhorod Ukrainian Premier League 21 2 2 1 0 0 23 3
2013–14 21 1 1 0 0 0 22 1
2014–15 Veria Superleague 16 1 3 0 0 0 19 1
2015–16 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 1
2016–17 24 2 2 0 0 0 26 2
2017–18 Kerkyra Superleague 8 0 1 0 0 0 9 0
Career total 240 18 23 1 9 1 271 18
Greece U21 national team
Year Apps Goals
2006 4 0
2007 5 1
2008 3 0
2009 1 0
Total 13 1

"Statistics accurate as of 5 January 2012"

References

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  1. ^ ΠΑΣ ΓΙΑΝΝΙΝΑ: «Έκλεισε» Μπαλάφα! [PAS Giannina agreed with Balafas]. sport-fm.gr (in Greek). 16 July 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  2. ^ Παίκτης της Βέροιας ο Σωτήρης Μπαλάφας [Sotiris Balafas is a Verian player]. 10 September 2014. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  3. ^ Σοκ με Μπαλάφα στη Βέροια [Balafas is in shock at Veria]. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2018.