SWOS ECE 95/96
SWOS ECE 95/96

ABEL BALBO
ABEL BALBO
Argentina flag
Number
#9
Nationality
Argentina
Team
ARGENTINA (South America)
Coach
DANIEL PASSARELLA
Position
A (Attacker)
Passing (P) Shooting (V) Heading (H) Tackling (T) Control (C) Speed (S) Finishing (F) Total Bargain Value
2 7 7 2 1 7 7 33 0.7 £4.5M

Abel Balbo

  • Full name: Abel Eduardo Balbo
  • Date of birth: February 1, 1966
  • Place of birth: Empedrado, Provincia de Entre Ríos, Argentina
  • Position: Striker / Centre-forward
  • Nationality: Argentine

Club career (highlights)

  • Newell's Old Boys (youth / early career)
  • Club Atlético Independiente (1986–1989) — Emerged as a prolific scorer in Argentina.
  • River Plate (brief loan / spells in late 1980s) — Domestic experience in Argentina's top flight.
  • U.S. Pescara / U.S. Foggia (Italy, early 1990s) — Moved to Italy and gained prominence under coach Zdeněk Zeman at Foggia.
  • AS Roma (1993–1999) — Peak years; key striker for Roma, known for clinical finishing and aerial ability.
  • Udinese (1999–2002) — Continued Serie A career with solid contributions.
  • Parma (2002–2003) — Final top-level club before retirement.

International career (Argentina)

  • Represented the Argentina national team in the 1990s.
  • Participated in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
  • Known for scoring important goals for Argentina and contributing as a forward with good positioning and finishing.

Style of play

  • Classic centre-forward: strong in the air, excellent penalty and inside-the-box finisher, good movement to create space.
  • Combined physical presence with technical finishing and an eye for goal.

Post-playing career

  • Worked in coaching and football management roles after retiring as a player, including coaching assignments in Argentina and involvement with youth development.

Notable facts

  • Remembered particularly for his successful spell at AS Roma, where he became a fan favorite and one of Serie A's top strikers in the mid-1990s.
  • Part of Argentina's squad during a competitive era, contributing international experience at major tournaments.