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.
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.
Balaci is a commune in Teleorman County, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Balaci, Burdeni and Tecuci.
[Verse 1:]
Oh holy place
What a beautiful place
Like nothing I've ever seen before
Pure rivers flow
From your throne
Weary seas in perfect peace
And appearing
Before my eyes
I see your glory
Too glorious to describe
Oh God
You carried me through the fire
Now you lift me high
And joy over whelms my heart
[Chorus:]
Here in your holy place
Your presence surrounds me
I feel your embrace
Angels all around, and trumpet sound
Here in your arms I'll stay, and melt away
I've never seen such majesty beauty and grace
Oh holy place
Oh holy place
[Verse 2:]
All the spender
Brighter than the sun
Clear as crystal
Where thy will is done
Miraculous wonder
Set me free
A secret place eternally
And I thanked
The holy one
For loving my soul
With all his might
I'm so in love
With you
For your love is pure, and it shall endure
I'll ride on your wings and soar
[Chorus:]
Here in your holy place
Your presence surrounds me
I feel your embrace
Angels all around, and trumpet sound
Here in your arms I'll stay, and melt away
I've never seen such majesty beauty and grace