[1][2] He made his Divizia A debut on 22 August 1976, playing for FCM Galați in a 1–0 loss in front of Jiul Petroșani, the team relegating after his first season but he stayed with the club, helping it promote back to the first league after two years.

[1] After playing five seasons in the first two leagues for FCM Galați, Orac was transferred at Dinamo București together with teammate Nicușor Vlad where for several years he would form a successful offensive trio with Ionel Augustin and Gheorghe Mulțescu, together being called "AMO" by the fans, a nickname inspired by their initials from the first letters of their family name.

[1][2][7][8][9] In 1989, Orac alongside teammates Dumitru Moraru and Alexandru Nicolae were transferred from Dinamo to Victoria București where because of a conflict he had with coach Florin Halagian, he played only two Divizia A games in which he scored one goal and made one appearance in the 1989–90 UEFA Cup in which he gave an assist in a 1–1 with Valencia.

[1][2][7][8] Costel Orac played three friendly games at international level for Romania, making his debut on 29 July 1984 under coach Mircea Lucescu in a 4–2 victory against China in which he scored one goal.

[8] He spent most of his career coaching in Divizia B, having a total of 356 games, managing to win four promotions to the first league with Selena Bacău, Baia Mare, Unirea Urziceni and Concordia Chiajna.