Éder Álvarez Balanta facts for kids
Balanta playing for Basel in 2017
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Éder Fabián Álvarez Balanta | ||
| Date of birth | 28 February 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Bogotá, Colombia | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder, centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
América de Cali | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010 | Academia | ||
| 2011–2013 | River Plate | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | River Plate | 60 | (2) |
| 2016–2019 | Basel | 58 | (3) |
| 2019–2024 | Club Brugge | 100 | (4) |
| 2023 | → Schalke 04 (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2024– | América de Cali | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2014–2022 | Colombia | 9 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 July 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 July 2022 |
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Éder Fabián Álvarez Balanta, born on February 28, 1993, is a professional footballer from Colombia. He plays as a defensive midfielder or a centre-back. Currently, he plays for América de Cali and the Colombia national team.
Many people think Éder is a very talented player. Some have even compared his skills to those of famous football legends. FIFA, the world's football organization, describes him as a strong player who is good in the air and a fearless tackler. He is also known for his skill and speed.
Éder made his first appearance for the Colombian national team in 2014. Later that year, he was chosen to be part of Colombia's team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
About Éder Álvarez Balanta
His Early Football Journey
Éder Álvarez Balanta was born in Bogotá, Colombia. He started his football journey with a club called Academia in 2010. He played very well in youth tournaments, winning many titles. This success caught the eye of scouts from River Plate, a big club in Argentina.
Before joining River Plate, Éder faced many injuries. These injuries stopped him from playing for Colombia's national youth teams.
Playing for River Plate
In 2011, Éder tried out for River Plate's youth team and joined them. By 2012, he became a regular player and helped his team win the U-20 Copa Libertadores. Because of his great talent, he moved up to the senior team in 2013.
Éder played his first senior match for River Plate against Racing Club. He scored his first goal in only his third league game. He scored again in his very next match. He also played in the famous Superclásico derby against River Plate's rivals, Boca Juniors. He played a key role in stopping their attacks in a tough 1–1 draw.
In July 2013, Éder signed his first professional contract with River Plate. He continued to play well, even being praised for being "impassable" in a match against San Lorenzo. He helped River Plate win important titles like the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.
Moving to Europe: Basel and Club Brugge
On July 15, 2016, Éder moved to Europe and signed a four-year contract with Basel, a club in Switzerland. He quickly became a part of their team. He made his debut in the Swiss league on July 24, 2016.
Éder also played in the UEFA Champions League for Basel. He scored his first league goal for Basel in September 2016, which was the winning goal in a match. He also scored his first goal in the Swiss Cup. In his first season, Éder helped Basel win the Swiss Super League championship. They also won the Swiss Cup, completing a "double" (winning both the league and cup). He played many games for Basel over three seasons.
On September 2, 2019, Éder signed a three-year contract with Club Brugge in Belgium. He continued to play well in Belgium, helping Club Brugge win several league titles.
Loan to Schalke 04 and Return to Colombia
In January 2023, Éder joined Schalke 04, a club in Germany, on a loan deal until the end of the season. After his time in Europe, Éder returned to Colombia. On June 27, 2024, he signed with América de Cali, playing for a Colombian club for the first time in his senior career.
Playing for His Country: Colombia
Éder Álvarez Balanta first caught the attention of the Colombian Football Federation in May 2013. He was called to join the U-20 team for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. However, due to injuries and contract issues, his club, River Plate, did not allow him to play in the tournament.
Later, Éder received his first call-up to the senior national team in November 2013. He made his international debut in a friendly match against Tunisia in March 2014. On June 6, 2014, he was chosen to be part of Colombia's 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
How He Plays: His Football Style
Éder Álvarez Balanta is known for his strong and complete style of play. Many in Argentina have called him the "best defender" in the league. He is often compared to other Colombian football legends. People say he has the strong presence of Jorge Bermúdez and the speed and agility of Iván Córdoba. He is also very strong and balanced.
Éder is mainly left-footed, but he can play well with his right foot too. His former coach at River Plate, Ramón Díaz, even compared his talents to the legendary player Daniel Passarella.
Despite all the praise, Éder is very humble. He once said that he is not as skilled as people think. He understands that people are excited about him, which shows his hard work is paying off. But he feels he is still "normal" and not a "star" yet. He focuses on playing well for his club and dreams of playing for Colombia in a World Cup.
What He Has Won
Éder Álvarez Balanta has won many titles throughout his career:
River Plate Youth
- U-20 Copa Libertadores: 2012
River Plate
- Argentine Primera División: Torneo Final 2014
- Copa Libertadores: 2015
- Copa Sudamericana: 2014
- Recopa Sudamericana: 2015
Basel
- Swiss Super League: 2016–17
- Swiss Cup: 2016–17, 2018–19
Club Brugge
- Belgian First Division A: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
- Belgian Super Cup: 2021
See also
In Spanish: Éder Álvarez Balanta para niños
