Conrad Balatoni

Conrad Balatoni

Personal information
Full name	Conrad Balatoni
Date of birth	27 January 1991
Place of birth	Leeds, England
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current team	Kilmarnock
Number	26
Youth career
	Heart of Midlothian
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
2008–2012	Heart of Midlothian	0	(0)
2010–2012	→ Partick Thistle (loan)	46	(2)
2012–2015	Partick Thistle	91	(10)
2015–	Kilmarnock	24	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2nd April 2016 (UTC). † Appearances (goals)

Conrad Balatoni (born 27 January 1991) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock as a defender. He has previously played for Heart of Midlothian, where he started his career in the club's youth team. However, having failed to break into the first team, he subsequently joined Partick Thistle. After a 5-year spell with the Maryhill side, Balatoni joined Kilmarnock in 2015.

Career

Hearts

Born in Leeds, Balatoni moved to Edinburgh at a young age and grew up supporting Hearts before becoming a member of the youth team^[1] Balatoni was promoted to the first team squad on 12 November 2008 being named as a substitute against Hamilton but did not make an appearance.^[2] He was named on the bench on four other occasions.^[3] Balatoni was sent on loan Partick Thistle to gain First team experience. On his return he was included in the first team squad to travel to Hearts pre season camp in Tuscany.^[4] Despite this he was sent on loan to Partick for a second spell. During his second term at Partick and with Hearts in financial difficulty he was informed by Hearts that he was free to find a new club.^[5] Despite this he returned to Hearts at the end of his loan spell.^[6]

On 31 January 2012 he became a free agent having negotiated an early release from his contract.^[7] He made no first team appearances for the club.

Partick Thistle

Having yet to make a first team appearance for Hearts Balatoni joined Scottish First Division side Partick Thistle on a season long loan in August 2010, having impressed in a friendly against Celtic.^[8] He made his debut against Raith Rovers on 7 August as a substitute,^[9] scoring his first goal for Thistle against Stirling Albion on 22 March 2011.^[10] His appearances were limited due to a Hamstring injury that forced him to return to Hearts for treatment.^[11] Over the course of the season he made 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring 1 goal.

In July 2011, Balatoni rejoined Partick Thistle for a second loan spell until 1 January 2012.^[12] He made his second debut on 23 July against Stenhousemuir in the Challenge Cup.^[13] With his league debut coming on 6 August 2011 as a 56th-minute substitute against Dundee.^[14] WIth his Hearts future in doubt, Partick boss Jackie McNamara expressed his hope that he would be able to keep Balatoni.^[15] However he returned to Hearts at the end of his loan spell.^[16]

On 16 February 2012, following his release by Hearts in January, Balatoni signed for Partick Thistle until the end of the season.^[17][18] At the end of the 2011–12 season, Balatoni signed a two-year contract with the club.^[19] In 2012–13 season, Conrad quickly became a fans favourite at Firhill scoring goals coming from the back and solid in the defence. In January 2013, Conrad scored a double, in a 4–1 win against Falkirk, which he scored again, the next game, in a 2–1 win over Cowdenbeath, scoring three scored goals in two consecutive games. In the final of Scottish Challenge Cup against Queen of the South, Balantoni missed the seventh penalty in a penalty-shootout after a tie 1–1 in the regular time and kept after extra-time, allowing Queen of the South win the penalty.^[20] Despite the loss, the club was promoted to Scottish Premier League for the first time in over nine years. Balatoni had a clean sweep of all the clubs player of the year awards.^[21] Supporters have reworked 1984 Black Lace hit, "Do The Conga", in his honour to now feature the refrain: "Do do do, Conrad Balatoni". Ahead of the new season, Balatoni signed a new contract, with a further two years.^[22]

In 2013–14 season, Balatoni was in the central partnership with Aaron Muirhead, making their Scottish Premiership debut, in the opening game of the season, against Dundee United and after the match, Manager Alan Archibald commented on the partnership as "outstanding".^[23]

International career

Although born in Leeds, England, Balatoni is eligible to play for either Scotland, England, Hungary or Austria, as a result of his Hungarian and Austrian grandparents, who moved to England during the outbreak of World War Two. Balatoni has stated that he would be "open to playing for either Austria or Hungary if the chance ever came up.”^[24]

Career statistics

As of 29 April 2013^[25][26]

Club statistics

Club	Season	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals	App	Goals
Partick Thistle	2010–11	22	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	25	1
	2011–12	24	1	1	0	1	0	2	0	28	1
	2012–13	28	6	2	0	0	0	4	0	34	6
Total		74	8	3	0	2	0	7	0	87	8

Honours

Partick Thistle

• Scottish First Division: 1

2012–13

References

1. "Conrad Balatoni Hearts Profile". Heart of Midlothian F.C. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
2. "Hearts 1–0 Hamilton Accies". BBC Sport. BBC. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
3. "Conrad Balatoni London Hearts Profile". London Hearts. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
4. "Conrad's chance". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 28 June 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
5. "JANOS BALOGH HEADS FOR HEARTS EXIT". The Express. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
6. "Balatoni off back to Hearts with his future up in air". The Evening Times. 26 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
7. "Hearts stars could still be tempted away from Tynecastle, warns Paulo Sergio". Daily Record. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
8. "Jags Look at Hearts Defender Conrad Balatoni As Bristol Rovers Come To Firhill". The Glaswegian. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
9. "Raith Rovers V Partick Thistle". Retrieved 7 May 2011.
10. http://www.ptfc.co.uk/team/conrad_balatoni
11. "Partick lose on loan Hearts defender to injury". Scottish Football League. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
12. "Balatoni loan completed". Partick Thistle F.C. 13 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
13. "Partick Thistle 2–1 Stenhousemuir". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 July 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
14. "Partick Thistle 0–1 Dundee". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
15. "Jags keen to sign Hearts kid Conrad Balatoni". The Scotsman. 10 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
16. "Darren Barr keen to impress on rare start for Hearts". Edinburgh Evening News. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
17. "Familiar Face Returns". Partick Thistle F.C. 16 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
18. "Partick Thistle boss Jackie McNamara brings in Conrad Balatoni". Daily Record (Trinity Mirror). 17 February 2012. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
19. "Partick Thistle Boss Jackie McNamara Keen To Get A Head Start in Summer Transfer Market". The Glaswegian. 7 May 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
20. "Queen of the South 1–1 Partick Thistle (6–5 pens)". BBC Sport. 7 April 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
21. "Player of the Year Awards". Partick Thistle F.C. 5 May 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
22. "Partick Thistle deals for Mark Kerr & Conrad Balatoni". BBC Sport. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
23. "Partick Thistle: Alan Archibald pleased with Jags' energy". BBC Sport. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
24. McDermott, Scott. "Partick Thistle defender Conrad Balatoni on why he would rather travel the world than go on a lads holiday to Spain". www.dailyrecord.co.uk. Daily Record. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
25. "Conrad Balatoni Stats". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
26. "Conrad Balatoni Stats". Soccerbase. Retrieved 27 December 2011.

External links

• Conrad Balatoni career statistics at Soccerbase
• Partick Thistle Profile