Ilie Balaci

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

<templatestyles src="Module:Infobox/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Ilie Balaci
Ilie Balaci.JPG
Personal information
Full name Ilie Balaci
Date of birth (1956-09-13) 13 September 1956 (age 67)
Place of birth Bistreţ, Romania
Position(s) Playmaker
Youth career
1965–1973 Universitatea Craiova
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1973–1984 Universitatea Craiova 285 (76)
1985–1986 Olt Scorniceşti 30 (7)
1986–1988 Dinamo Bucureşti 32 (1)
Total 347 (84)
International career
1974–1986 Romania 65 (8)
Managerial career
1988–1989 Pandurii Târgu Jiu
1989–1991 Drobeta Turnu-Severin
1991–1992 Club Africain
1992–1994 Olympique Casablanca
1994–1996 Al-Shabab
1996–1997 Al-Nassr
1997–1998 Al-Hilal
1998 Universitatea Craiova
1998–2000 Al-Ain
2000–2001 Al-Hilal
2001 Universitatea Craiova
2001–2002 Al-Sadd
2002–2003 Al-Hilal
2003–2005 Al-Ahli
2005–2006 Al-Arabi
2006 Al-Shabab
2007–2009 Universitatea Craiova (general manager)
2009–2010 Kazma
2011 Raja Casablanca
2013 Al-Nahda
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ilie Balaci (Romanian pronunciation: [iˈli.e ˈbalat͡ʃʲ]; born 13 September 1956 in Bistreţ, Dolj County) is a retired Romanian football midfielder and current manager.

He is considered one of the greatest Romanian footballers of all time, along with Gheorghe Hagi, Nicolae Dobrin, Marcel Răducanu and Florea Dumitrache.[1]

Playing career

Club career

Balaci is a product of Universitatea Craiova's youth system. He made his first team debut in 1973, at the age of 16, and won the league title in his first season. He soon managed to become one of the youngest players ever to score in the Romanian League. Balaci went on to play twelve seasons with Craiova, helping them to win two consecutive league titles in 1980 and 1981. He also won the Romanian Cup four times, in the years 1977, 1978, 1981 and 1983. He became an integral part of the team helping them reach the 1982–83 UEFA Cup semi-finals, before moving to Olt Scorniceşti in the winter of 1984. In December 1982, he signed a pre-contract with Italian side AC Milan, but the transfer did not materialize because of the communist regime in Romania.[2]

In the 1986–87 season, he jointed Bucharest rivals Dinamo Bucureşti together with Craiova teammate Rodion Cămătaru. He spent two seasons at the club, under the leadership of Mircea Lucescu. However, Balaci did not win any major trophies whilst he was playing for them.

International career

Balaci made his full international debut on 23 March 1974 in a friendly match against France at the age of 17. He earned 65 caps and scored 8 goals for the Romanian national team between 1974 and 1986.[3]

He also became captain of the national team during the UEFA Euro 1984 qualifying campaign, but he was unable to play for Romania at UEFA Euro 84 due to an injury.

Managerial career

After retiring as a footballer, Balaci went on to coach lower league sides Pandurii Târgu Jiu and Drobeta-Turnu Severin. In 1991, he coached clubs in North Africa and the Arab world, he become one of the most successful managers there having won over 22 major trophies domestic and international.[4][5][6]

He took charge of Tunisia’s Club Africain and Moroccan club Olympique Casablanca in the early 1990s. He then managed UAE, Qatari and Saudi Arabian clubs Al Shabab, Al Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al Ain and Al Sadd.[7][8] In June 2003, he was appointed manager of Al Ahli until January 2005.[9] He then went on to join Qatari side Al-Arabi in the 2005–06 season, before moving to the United Arab Emirates club Al Shabab for a second spell.[10] In August 2007, Balaci was hired as general manager of Universitatea Craiova whom he also coached in two periods, and remained there for two seasons. On 22 July 2009, Balaci was named head coach of Kuwait club Kazma. He had an impressive start with the Kuwaiti side at the 2010 AFC Cup.[11]

On 11 July 2011, he returned to Morocco signing for Raja Casablanca but was sacked in September after just two months. Raja appointed Bertrand Marchand as his replacement.[12]

On 4 June 2013, Balaci signed a contract with newly promoted Saudi Premier League side Al-Nahda.[13] In September 2013, he resigned his contract with the club.

Managerial statistics

Season Club Titles
1988–89 Pandurii Târgu Jiu
1989–90 Drobeta Turnu-Severin
1990–91 Drobeta Turnu-Severin
1991–92 Club Africain CAF Champions League, Tunisian League, Afro-Asian Club Championship, Tunisia Cup
1992–93 Olympique Casablanca Arab Cup Winners' Cup, Moroccan Cup
1993–94 Olympique Casablanca Arab Cup Winners' Cup, Moroccan League
1994–95 Al Shabab UAE Pro-League
1995–96 Al Shabab UAE President's Cup
1996–97 Al Nasr Gulf Club Champions Cup
1997–98 Al Hilal Gulf Club Champions Cup, Saudi Premier League
1998–99 Universitatea Craiova
1998–99 Al Ain UAE President's Cup
1999–00 Al Ain UAE Pro-League
2000–01 Al Hilal Arab Cup Winners' Cup, Asian Super Cup
2000–01 Universitatea Craiova
2001–02 Al Sadd Arab Champions League, Emir of Qatar Cup
2002–03 Al Hilal Saudi Crown Prince Cup
2003–04 Al Ahli UAE President's Cup
2004–05 Al Ahli
2005–06 Al Arabi
2006–07 Al Shabab
2009–10 Kazma
2011–12 Raja Casablanca
2013 Al-Nahda

Personal life

Balaci's daughter Liana Ungur is a professional tennis player.

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Ilie_Balaci&oldid=713584776"