Mario Bilen
Mario Bilen (born 23 January 1985 in Vinkovci, Croatia) is a Croatian professional footballer, currently playing for Ngaruawahia United AFC in NRFL Division 2[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mario Bilen | ||
| Date of birth | 23 January 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Vinkovci, Croatia | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender, Midfielder | ||
| Club 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 | Orasje | 9 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Slaven Belupo | 23 | (1) |
| 2010 | Flamurtari Vlorë | 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) |
| National team | |||
| 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) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 09:20, 14 June 2021 (UTC) | |||
Career
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.[2] 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.[3]
Following his departure from Auckland City he joined Ngaruawahia on the eve of their promotion playoff into NRFL Division 2 which they won without him featuring in it. He made his debut for Ngaruawahia in Round 1 of the NRFL Division 2 season in a 2-0 away win over West Auckland Kiwi True Blues FC in April 2022.[4]
References
- Mario Bilen at FootballDatabase.eu
- Mario Bilen at Auckland City FC at the Wayback Machine (archived 22 October 2013)