Darko Lazović (Serbian Cyrillic: Дарко Лазовић, pronounced [dǎːrko lâːzoʋitɕ]; born 15 September 1990) is a Serbian professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Serie A club Hellas Verona.

Darko Lazović
Lazović playing for Red Star Belgrade in 2014
Personal information
Full name Darko Lazović[1]
Date of birth (1990-09-15) 15 September 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Čačak, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Hellas Verona
Number 8
Youth career
1996–2007 Borac Čačak
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Borac Čačak 42 (6)
2009–2015 Red Star Belgrade 117 (29)
2015–2019 Genoa 102 (5)
2019– Hellas Verona 180 (15)
International career
2008–2009 Serbia U19 2 (0)
2011–2012 Serbia U21 11 (4)
2008–2023 Serbia 29 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20 June 2023

At the age of 21, Lazović was recognized as the best young player of the Serbian Superliga in 2011.[3]

Club career

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Borac Čačak

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From the age of six, Lazović began to train in the youth academy of FK Borac Čačak. By the time he played for the junior team, he was attracting the attention of scouts from outside of Čačak. On 2 March 2008, he made his senior debut for Borac head coach Milovan Rajevac in a league match against Hajduk Kula. He scored his first competitive goal for Borac Čačak on 22 March 2008, in a Serbian Superliga match against Vojvodina. In February 2009, Lazović trained with the first-team of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. for a couple of days, and by 10 February, Borac coach Ljubiša Dmitrović, told the press "For all I know, Lazović has been transferred to Tottenham".[4] However, a contract was never signed, and domestic club Red Star Belgrade took the initiative.

Red Star Belgrade

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On 22 June 2009, at the age of 18, Lazović completed a transfer from Borac to Red Star, whose coach at the time was Vladimir Petrović.[5] He signed a four-year contract with Red Star.[6] He missed the start of the season due to injury, but made his debut on 12 September 2009 against Metalac Gornji Milanovac. He came off the bench in the 65th minute to replace Nikola Vasiljević. He scored his first goal for Red Star on 23 September 2009, in the sixteenth Serbian Cup match against Mladost Apatin. Red Star went on to win 6–1 and Lazović scored a brace. Otherwise, Lazović saw little playing time until the arrival of coach Robert Prosinečki, after which he was named as best young player in the Serbian Superliga.[3] He played an important role in Red Star's 2011–12 UEFA Europa League qualifying campaign, as he started most of the games and contributed to a deep run into the qualification playoff, where Red Star lost to Stade Rennais.

In the semi-final of the 2011–12 Serbian Cup, On 11 April 2012, he scored a goal against historic rival Partizan, in a game which Red Star won 2–0.[7] That year, Red Star would go on to win the 2012 Serbian Cup Final. On 4 July 2012, Lazović signed a three-year contract extension, ending speculation about a possible transfer after Red Bull Salzburg made an offer for him.[8] Although Red Star didn't win the league that season, it was the second consecutive season in which Red Star made a play-off run in the UEFA Europa League qualifying phase. During the 2011-12 Europa League campaign, Lazović contributed with assists against Naftan Novopolotsk and played full matches against Omonia and Bordeaux.

Although a period of instability followed at Red Star, Lazović remained in the starting eleven even after a quick succession of coaches: Robert Prosinečki, Aleksandar Janković, and Ricardo Sá Pinto. However, on 18 May 2013, in a match against Partizan, he suffered a season-ending knee injury, eight minutes into the game.[9]

While Lazović was injured, Ricardo Sá Pinto voluntarily resigned from Red Star, and new coach Slaviša Stojanovič was enthusiastic about giving Lazović some playing time as soon as his injury allowed. On 22 February 2014, Lazović played his first competitive match after eight months of injury and made an assist against Javor.[10] On 12 April 2014, Lazović scored a hat-trick against Čukarički.[11] first in career. Lazović won his first championship with Red Star at the end of the season, after a win against OFK Beograd in a front of 55,000 fans.

After the departure of Nenad Milijaš and suspension of Nikola Mijailović during season, Lazović was appointed as new captain of Red Star Belgrade. On 14 January 2015, it was announced that at the end of the season, after six years in Red Star Belgrade, as a free player, Lazović would sign A multiyear contract with Serie A club Genoa.[12] In his last season with Red Star, he scored 10 goals and was the team's top scorer. His last game with Red Star was on 24 May 2015, in a win against Mladost Lučani.

Genoa

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In summer 2015, Lazović signed with Serie A team Genoa. In a friendly match against Hertha BSC on 1 August 2015, Lazović scored his first goal for Genoa in their 0–2 away win.[13] On 8 November 2015, Lazović produced two assists in a 2–2 tie with Frosinone Calcio, and was subsequently named in the Serie A "Team of the Week".[14] On 16 December 2016, Lazović scored his first goal for Genoa against Fiorentina, in a match that was only 62 minutes long as it was meant as a continuation of an unfinished match from 11 September which had been abandoned due to an unusual hailstorm.[15] His contract expired and he left the club on 30 June 2019.

Hellas Verona

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On 6 August 2019, Lazović signed a three-year contract with Serie A club Hellas Verona.[16]

International career

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After being called up by coach Radomir Antić, Lazović debuted for Serbia on 14 December 2008, in a friendly match against Poland.[citation needed] Four years later, he came in as a substitute in the 76th minute against France during a friendly match on 31 May 2012. [17][better source needed] On 5 June 2012, during his third game for the senior team, Lazović scored an impressive goal against Sweden which was disallowed by the referee.[18]

In November 2022, he was selected in Serbia's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[19] He played in a group stage match against Brazil.[20] Serbia finished fourth in the group.[21]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 29 November 2024[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Borac Čačak 2007–08 Serbian SuperLiga 14 3 0 0 14 3
2008–09 28 3 2 1 5[a] 1 35 5
Total 42 6 2 1 5 1 49 8
Red Star Belgrade 2009–10 Serbian SuperLiga 9 1 2 2 0 0 11 3
2010–11 16 2 3 0 0 0 19 2
2011–12 27 7 6 1 4[a] 1 37 9
2012–13 23 4 2 1 6[a] 0 31 5
2013–14 14 5 0 0 0 0 14 5
2014–15 28 10 2 0 0 0 30 10
Total 117 29 15 4 10 1 142 34
Genoa 2015–16 Serie A 15 0 1 0 16 0
2016–17 33 2 3 0 36 2
2017–18 21 0 3 0 24 0
2018–19 33 3 1 0 34 3
Total 102 5 8 0 110 5
Hellas Verona 2019–20 Serie A 38 3 1 0 39 3
2020–21 32 3 1 0 33 3
2021–22 34 1 1 1 35 2
2022–23 30 4 1 0 1[b] 0 32 4
2023–24 32 3 1 0 33 3
2024–25 14 1 0 0 14 1
Total 180 15 5 1 185 16
Career total 441 55 30 6 15 2 1 0 487 63
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Appearances in Serie A – Relegation tie-breaker

International

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As of match played 20 June 2023[23]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Serbia 2008 1 0
2009 0 0
2010 0 0
2011 0 0
2012 3 0
2013 0 0
2014 1 0
2015 0 0
2016 0 0
2017 0 0
2018 0 0
2019 4 0
2020 6 0
2021 6 0
2022 6 0
2023 2 1
Total 29 1

International goals

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Scores and results list Serbia's goal tally first.
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 20 June 2023 Huvepharma Arena, Razgrad, Bulgaria 29   Bulgaria 1–1 1–1 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying

Honours

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Red Star Belgrade

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: Serbia (SRB)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 26. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Darko Lazović" (in Italian). Hellas Verona F.C. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  3. ^ a b Дарко Лазовић најбољи млади играч у ЈСЛ. Moja Crvena Zvezda (in Serbian). 12 December 2011.
  4. ^ [1] B92 Sport – Fudbal – I Totenhem želi Lazovića? 10 February 2009
  5. ^ "Lazović stigao u Crvenu zvezdu". Blic Sport (in Serbian). 22 June 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  6. ^ "Buduća perjanica". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). 26 June 2009. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  7. ^ "KS: Lazović i Borha potopili Partizan". Sportal (in Serbian). 11 April 2012. Archived from the original (via Wayback Machine) on 14 April 2012.
  8. ^ "Lazović produžio ugovor sa Zvezdom". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). 26 June 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  9. ^ Darko Mitrović (19 May 2013). "Kraj sezone za Lazovića". Sportske.net (in Serbian).
  10. ^ На крилима надахнутог Дарка Лазовића (in Serbian). Dnevnik. 22 February 2014. Archived from the original (via Wayback Machine) on 22 March 2014.
  11. ^ Mihajlo Vidojević (12 April 2014). "JSL: Crvena zvezda - Čukarički (uživo)". Sportske.net (in Serbian).
  12. ^ [2] Moja Crvena zvezda: Darko Lazović u Đenovi (in Serbian) Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  13. ^ [3] Football Italia: Genoa shock Hertha Berlin. 1 August 2015
  14. ^ [4] B. Vinulović. Blic Sport: IGRAČ KOLA U ITALIJI: Lazović ispred Žervinja, Mandžukića i Iguaina. (in Serbian) 9 November 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  15. ^ Selene Scarsi (16 December 2016). "Genoa's Darko Lazovic: 'Strange' finishing Fiorentina game 3 months on". ESPN. Retrieved 21 March 2019.
  16. ^ "UFFICIALE: Hellas Verona, Lazovic nuovo giocatore degli scaligeri". Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  17. ^ "UEFA | Friendlies 2010–12 | France 2-0 Serbia". UEFA. 31 May 2012.
  18. ^ "101 great goals – A brilliant volley that never was: Darko Lazovic Serbia vs Sweden". 101 Great Goals. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
  19. ^ "Head-coach Dragan Stojković announces the list of players for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar". Football Association of Serbia. 11 November 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  20. ^ Conti, Kristen (24 November 2022). "Richarlison Brings Brazil to Life in the Second Half, Defeats Serbia 2-0". NBC New York. New York. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  21. ^ Mandela, Nicholas (2 December 2022). "World Cup 2022 Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Cameroon, Switzerland schedule, fixtures, rankings". NBC Sports. Lusail. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  22. ^ "D. Lazović". Soccerway. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  23. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Darko Lazović". National Football Teams.
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