Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Mario Bilen [1] | ||
Date of birth | [1] | 23 January 1985||
Place of birth | Vinkovci, Croatia | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) [1] | ||
Position(s) | Defender, Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Ngaruawahia | ||
Number | 16 | ||
Youth career | |||
Cibalia Vinkovci | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2003–2007 | Cibalia | 39 | (0) |
2004 | → Dilj (loan) | 6 | (0) |
2007 | Hrvatski Dragovoljac | 0 | (0) |
2008 | Orašje | 10 | (0) |
2008–2009 | Slaven Belupo | 23 | (1) |
2010 | Flamurtari | 7 | (0) |
2010 | Vukovar '91 | 2 | (0) |
2011 | Nehaj | 15 | (0) |
2012 | Zadar | 21 | (0) |
2013–2021 | Auckland City | 94 | (2) |
2022– | Ngaruawahia | 2 | (0) |
International career | |||
2001 | Croatia U15 | 5 | (0) |
2001–2002 | Croatia U17 | 4 | (0) |
2003 | Croatia U18 | 5 | (0) |
2003–2004 | Croatia U19 | 13 | (1) |
2004 | Croatia U20 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:20, 14 June 2021 (UTC) |
Mario Bilen (born 23 January 1985 in Vinkovci, Croatia) is a Croatian professional footballer who currently plays for NRFL Division 2 club Ngaruawahia United. [2]
A stalwart in Croatia's top-flight, the 1.HNL. and youth national teams, where he befriended Luka Modric, Bilen immigrated to New Zealand in 2013 to sign for 9x OFC Oceania Champions League winners, Auckland City FC. [3] After leading the defensive line for the club in over 100 top-flight matches in New Zealand, Bilen departed the club in December 2022, aged 36.
He is widely regarded as a club legend at City and played an instrumental role in the club's third-place finish at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2014 as the starting centre-back. [4]
Following his departure from Auckland City, he joined Ngaruawahia United on the eve of their promotion playoff into NRFL Division 2 against Papakura City. He made his debut for Ngaruawahia in the first game of the NRFL Division 2 season in a 2–0 away win over West Auckland. [5]
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