Grown up in the
Empoli youth system, Balli spent his early professional years with several
Serie C1 and
Serie C2 teams (
Trento,
Mobilieri Ponsacco,
Tempio) before to return to Empoli as a reserve keeper in 1992. In 1994, he finally managed to become the first choice for the Tuscan team, being instrumental in two consecutive promotions from
Serie C1 to
Serie A. In 1997, he joined
Salernitana, obtaining a personal third consecutive promotion with the Campanian side, and playing with them also in the following season, the first in the Italian top flight for Balli. In 1999, following Salernitana's relegation back to Serie B, he joined ambitious Umbrian Serie B club
Ternana, playing more than sixty games in two seasons for the
rossoverdi. In 2001, he returned to Tuscany, joining
Pistoiese, who then were relegated to Serie C1 that season. Now without a team, 35-year-old Balli returned into active football only in January 2003, joining
Serie C2 club
Nocerina. In September 2003 he then made a comeback to
Empoli, in search for an experienced goalkeeper, thus returning to play into Serie A as second choice behind former
Italian international Luca Bucci. In the following 2004–05 season, now in
Serie B, Balli then returned to play football regularly and helped his side to win a prompt return to the Italian Serie A. In 2005–06 he played less regularly, also because of the presence of other keepers such as
Gianluca Berti and
Sebastián Cejas. The following two seasons saw Balli being sided by youngster
Davide Bassi for the first choice goalie role. He was released in June 2008, after Empoli went relegated to Serie B. On 13 February 2009 41-year-old Balli accepted to join
Serie B club
Pisa until the end of the 2008–09 season, going on the bench for the 14 February local derby against
Livorno. However, on 21 February, eight days after his signing, Pisa announced to have parted company with Balli under player's request, citing the veteran goalie's doubts regarding his fitness conditions as being the main reason for this choice. ==References==