Quick Facts
Biography
Sotiris Balafas (Greek: Σωτήρης Μπαλάφας; born 19 August 1986 in Arta) is a Greek footballer who plays for Veria in Greek Super League, as a defensive midfielder. He is a defensive midfielder known for his defensive awareness, his tackling and heading skills as well as his pace and strength.
Club career
Balafas started his career in Anagennisi Artas and became integral part of the team at very young age. Interestingly enough, he was mostly performing the duties of a centre back in his old club in contrary to his role in 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 part of the season and was cooperating well with newcomer Ricardo Matias Verón.
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.
At 2011-12 season, after a lot of injures of the most playable players of the team, balafas take his chances for the Europa League in this season and after the winning goal against FC Karpaty Lviv became again a fan favorite and giving that his coach László Bölöni give him chances of playing time.
At 2012-13 season, he decided to play abroad for Hoverla. In May 2014 he was released from the club.
On 10 September 2014, the Superleague club Veria signed in Sotiris on a free transfer.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 F.C. as he opened the score. Balafas renewed his contract with Veria on 29 May 2015 for two more years. His new contract is due to expire on 31 June 2017. On 22 August 2015, Balafas got injured during the club's training. He was diagnosed with clot rupture and the estimate time of his cure is about three to four months.
International career
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
| 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 F.C. | 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 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 221 | 17 | 22 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 252 | 17 | ||
| 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"