The world was his oyster. Compared to Mark Viduka, Eli Babalj was touted as the next big thing in Australian football.
Babalj burst onto the scene with Melbourne Heart (now known as Melbourne City) in the A-League Men in 2010. By the time he was 20, he had already signed for Serbian powerhouse Red Star Belgrade and made his Socceroos debut.
But it slowly started to unravel for Babalj. While stints with AZ Alkmaar and PEC Zwolle followed in Dutch Eredivisie, injuries and form curtailed his career.
Now back in Australia with Arthur Papas’ Newcastle Jets, the 30-year-old is happy and still full of belief, reflecting on a “unique” football journey with perspective.
“When I started my career, I didn’t think it would be like that,” Babalj told Neds, having also experienced life in the Czech Republic, India and Thailand. “I thought Melbourne Heart, Red Star, Atletico Madrid and that was it. Nah, it’s a unique career.
“You learn and once you get older, you see a lot of players go on that journey. It’s part and parcel of sport, especially strikers. That’s the beauty of football, you don’t know where you will end up. Some moves, they didn’t turn out the best and regret doing, but you live and learn.”
“When you’re younger and looking back now, I achieved quite a bit early on in my career,” Babalj said. “Playing for a dream club, national team at the age of 20. At that time, all you see is the top, top. You have aspirations to make the highest level you can, that’s your whole focus.
“Looking back now, I’m not where I wanted to be back then but I’m still content and happy to be a professional 12 years on. Still playing and contributing, playing the best job in the world. You take it for granted a little bit but having time off makes you realise how much you do miss it. Will try to play as long as I can.”
Babalj, who emerged from Perth Glory’s youth team and the AIS, was 17 when expansion club Melbourne Heart signed him for their inaugural 2010-11 ALM season.
And from an early age, Babalj was likened to one of Australia’s greatest players – Viduka.
It never sat well with him.
“Early on in my career there was always comparisons with the famous Mark Viduka, which I didn’t like and I said it early on in my career,” said Babalj, who has also played for Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar in the ALM.
“I think people in Australia should stop comparing players and putting pressure on players. Everyone has their own individual path and career. Now with the young boys, they have their own careers to forge. I don’t think it’s fair on the past and present players to be compared to each other.
“It was an interesting time. Made my Socceroos debut at 20, made a move to two big overseas clubs at 20 and 21. Then injuries, what not happened. It’s frustrating but I don’t regret anything. I’ve played in six different countries, top tiers, looking back once I finish, it’s experiences, cultures and football you learn.”
Babalj scored 11 goals in his first stint with the then-known Heart, including nine in 22 during his final ALM season before being prised to Belgrade by his boyhood team Red Star in 2012.
A move that promised so much did not go according to plan.
“It was unbelievable at the time,” Babalj recalled. “It’s a club you grew up supporting then making the move and getting the number nine jersey.
“It meant a lot but turned out differently to what I was expecting. I saw it as a first step in Europe before going onto bigger and better things. Things happened that you couldn’t control like change of coach, financial issues…. Frustrating that you saw the club as unbelievable but once you got there it was a little bit disappointing.
“You didn’t play as much as you would’ve liked but looking back now, it was a proud moment for myself and family. I always follow the club, it’s a club that I love.”
Babalj made his Socceroos debut against South Korea in 2012. In his only two international appearances for Australia, he found the back of the net twice.
But it’s been 10 years since Babalj last represented the Green and Gold.
“It was so long ago, when people say where you’ve played, I’ve played but I don’t ever think I’ve played for the Socceroos,” he said.
“But it was a special moment, making your debut alongside legends like [Mark] Schwarzer and [Lucas] Neill. It was 10 years ago, I wish I was still involved. The players I made my debut with, they’re still going strong.”
For everything Babalj’s endured, he remains confident of contributing on the pitch.
Babalj underwent a strenuous trial before earning a contract for the 2021-22 Isuzu UTE A-League season in Newcastle.
This season, Babalj has scored once in 10 appearances, though he has only started once in 154 minutes of action.
“Talent is always there. Form is temporary, class is permanent as they say,” he said.
“I’ve always believed in myself. I wouldn’t be here today if people didn’t believe in me. It wasn’t easy to get this contract here to earn this deal. I’m using a different role at the moment, not getting as much minutes but contributing in other ways. Making sure training standards are high and pushing the others.
“When I get my chance, I’ll try to make the most of it. The belief is there, I back myself, I just haven’t had the consistency throughout my career.”
