Danko Lazović

Danko Lazović (Serbian Cyrillic: Данко Лазовић, pronounced [dâːŋko lâːzoʋitɕ]; born 17 May 1983) is a Serbian former footballer who played as a forward or winger. He represented the Serbia national team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Not to be confused with Darko Lazović.

Danko Lazović
Lazović with Beijing BG in 2015
Personal information
Full name Danko Lazović
Date of birth (1983-05-17) 17 May 1983
Place of birth Kragujevac, SR Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
1996–2000 Partizan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2003 Partizan 60 (20)
2000–2001 → Teleoptik (loan) 23 (7)
2003–2006 Feyenoord 41 (9)
2005–2006 → Bayer Leverkusen (loan) 9 (0)
2006 → Partizan (loan) 11 (5)
2006–2007 Vitesse 32 (19)
2007–2010 PSV 82 (24)
2010–2013 Zenit Saint Petersburg 51 (17)
2013 → Rostov (loan) 9 (1)
2014–2015 Partizan 25 (15)
2015 Beijing BG 28 (13)
2016 Olimpija Ljubljana 0 (0)
2016–2018 Videoton / MOL Vidi 61 (25)
Total 432 (155)
National team
2002–2005 Serbia and Montenegro U21 23 (6)
2002–2014 Serbia 47 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Partizan

Lazović started playing football at a small football school in Kragujevac, before joining Partizan at the age of 13.[1] In his first senior season, Lazović made eight league appearance for Partizan, and also played for Teleoptik on loan. Lazović made his European debut in the UEFA Cup qualifiers against Santa Coloma on 23 August 2001. He won the domestic title with Partizan twice in a row, in 2001–02 and 2002–03.

Feyenoord

After an impressive form at Partizan, Lazović would join Feyenoord in the summer of 2003 for a club record €7 million.[2] On the opening of the season on 17 October 2003, he scored on his debut and the club's first goal of the season, in a 2–1 win over NEC and scored his first brace in his Feyenoord's career in a 3–2 win over Utrecht on 25 January 2004, bringing his 15 games without scoring. At the last game of the season, Lazović scored his first hat-trick in his Feyenoord's career, in a 7–1 win over relegated side PEC Zwolle. The next season, Lazović scored his first goal of the season and would score another, also setting up a goal for Dirk Kuyt in a 7–2 win over De Graafschap. At his time at the club, however, Lazović found it difficult to break into the first team squad at Feyenoord and moved onto Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2005 on a loan deal.[3] After the move, Lazović said he expected to resurrect his career.[4] In the first round of DFB-Pokal, Lazović scored a hat-trick on his competitive debut in an 8–0 win over Rot-Weiß Erfurt. However, he also failed to settle in at Bayer Leverkusen,[5] returning to Partizan in January 2006 on a six-month loan deal. He had a decent half-season at his old club, scoring five league goals, but various reports continued about his apparent disruptive dressing room influence. In early May 2006, after the last league match of the season, Lazović was reportedly involved in a training ground bust up with teammate Niša Saveljić with bad blood even continuing later during lunch at the training facility.[6]

Vitesse

Over the summer of 2006, Lazović returned to the Eredivisie, this time with Vitesse.[7] Vitesse paid Feyenoord €1.5 million for the forward, with Feyenoord agreeing to pay the first year of his salary. On the opening game of the season, Lazović scored on his debut in a 2–1 win over Sparta Rotterdam[8] (which he scored against them once again but a brace in a 3–0 win on 6 April 2006) and scored the following week (on 26 August 2006) in a 3–1 over AZ. Lazović scored his first hat-trick in the Dutch league in over two years in a 4–0 win over Heracles Almelo on 23 September 2006. He scored a goal and set up a goal for Anduele Pryor in a 2–2 draw but received a straight red card, just minutes before half-time, against Excelsior on 28 October 2006. Lazović was a member of the squad that beat Ajax 4–2, as he scored for himself and set up two goals for Mads Junker and Youssouf Hersi respectively. To the dismay of many Feyenoord fans, Lazović had an excellent season at Vitesse, rediscovering his scoring touch and being a serious contender for the league's golden boot for most of the season. He was also the club's top scorer.

PSV
Lazović, in the shirt of PSV Eindhoven, twirling a ball

Lazović attracted the attention of PSV early on,[9] before moving to them at the end of the season for €6.6 million, signing a five-year deal. He took over the number 9 jersey from legendary forward Patrick Kluivert, who was released and joined Lille.[10][11] At PSV, Lazović earned the nickname "Lazoflap" due to his moderate appearance.

On the opening game of the season, Lazović scored twice on his debut in a 5–0 win over NEC. In the opening game of the UEFA Champions League group stage, he scored in a 2–1 win over CSKA Moscow. PSV's campaign in the Champions League went poor, resulting in the club going to the UEFA Cup. In the third round of UEFA Cup, he scored and set up a goal for Timmy Simons in a 2–0 win over Helsingborgs IF in the first leg. In the second leg, he scored again with the same result as in the first round. The club would progress in the UEFA Cup until meeting Italian side Fiorentina at the quarter final. At the end of the season, the club would win the title after scoring against his former club Vitesse in a 1–0 win.

The following season, Lazović scored his first two goals of the season as PSV would beat De Graafschap 3–0. In November 2008, he would be involved in a conflict with manager Huub Stevens. After setting up a goal for Ibrahim Afellay against Ajax, he appeared to allegedly insult Stevens, and after the match (which PSV lost 4–1) he was fined for showing dissent.[12][13] Eventually, he would apologize and the two would bury the hatchet. On the last match of the Champions League group stage, he scored the club's only goal in the match as PSV lost 3–1 against Liverpool. Later in the season, however, the club could not win another title and surrendered it to AZ.

Lazović (second right) in training for PSV Eindhoven with teammates

The following season, he scored his first goal of the season in a 3–1 win over Willem II on 26 September 2009. On 11 November 2009, he earned a hat-trick and set up goals for Ola Toivonen (twice) and Otman Bakkal in a 5–1 win over ADO Den Haag. On 6 December 2009, he scored his last goal for the club in a 2–0 win over RKC Waalwijk, having previously scored against Sparta the previous week in a 3–2 win and ten days, he also scored his last competitive goal in a 2–0 win over CFR Cluj. He would make his last league appearance in a 1–1 draw against Sparta and also his last competitive appearance in the Europa League in a 3–2 win over Hamburger SV in the second leg, assisting a brace for Toivonen and Danny Koevermans. PSV, however, was eliminated in the Europa League on away goals.

Zenit Saint Petersburg
Lazović in the Zenit shirt ahead of a match

On 3 March 2010, Zenit Saint Petersburg completed the transfer of the striker from PSV for nearly €5 million.[14][15] After the deal, PSV general director Jan Reker said, "Danko Lazović told us about the interest of Zenit about a week ago. We've since discussed his situation several times and have eventually decided to cash in on him."[16]

Lazović made his Russian Premier League debut for Zenit on 13 March 2010 against Krylia Sovetov Samara, coming on as a substitute in the 54th minute for Konstantin Zyryanov.[17] Two weeks later, Lazović made his first impact on the scoresheet, delivering a perfect ball to set up Danny for the first goal against Dynamo Moscow. His first goal, however, did not come until 9 July 2010 against Alania Vladikavkaz, as he helped Zenit to a 3–1 away victory.

On 30 September 2010, Lazović scored a double against AEK Athens in the Europa League at the Petrovsky Stadium. He scored from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute, beating AEK goalkeeper Giannis Arabatzis then added his second in the 57th minute, poking home a cross from Vladimir Bystrov.[18] On 14 November 2010, he scored the Championship-winning goal against Rostov in the 40th minute, helping Zenit win its second Russian Premier League title in four years. Lazović finished the season with five goals in the Russian Premier League and seven in total. He tied with Georgi Peev of Amkar Perm for second-best assistant in the RPL with seven assists.

On 19 June 2011, during a 2–0 win over Volga, Lazović made headlines when he was tasered by the police with an electric baton after he tried to throw his shirt into the stands, that left a burn mark under his right shoulder blade. Television footage shows the Lazović (with no shirt) being approached by police officers as he moved towards the away fans after the match.[19] Afterwards, he was quoted by Sport Express newspaper as saying, "I simply went to give my shirt to the fans after the game when a policeman appeared behind me and hit me in the back with an electric shock, I don't know why this happened. Maybe he thought I was one of the fans." Because of the police action, the club would make the accusation to the police, which they deny wrongdoing. Andrei Shmonin, deputy police chief of public security police in Nizhny Novgorod, says the police stepped between the players and the fans, with arms outstretched. In his hands was a stun gun, but it was not used.[20] There was evidence by the medical commission, that Lazović did receive an electric shock from the police and also said the diagnosis that Lazović received was electrical accident and first-degree burns on the right subscapular region.[21] Later in his Zenit's career, he was among three other player to be left out of the squad to the training camp in Zenit's first pre-season training camp.[22] Also, Lazović first team opportunities would soon be limited due to goalscoring form striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov and several new signing, leading him to be placed in the reserves.

Upon his return to Zenit, Lazović continued to remain out of the first team spotlight, as he trains separate from the first team. He was linked with PAOK[23] and Legia Warsaw[24] In November 2013, Lazović announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.[25]

Lazović playing for Rostov in 2013

On 27 February 2013, just one day before the Russian transfer deadline, it was announced that he joined the Russian Premier League side Rostov on loan until the end of the 2012–13 season.[26] In his first appearance of the 2012–13 season, he made his debut for Rostov, playing in the left wing, in a 0–0 draw against Alania Vladikavkaz.[27] At the end of the season, Lazović returned to the club following a loan spell with Rostov.[28]

Partizan

After leaving Zenit Saint Petersburg, Lazović returned to Serbia to rejoin Partizan on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal.[29][30] On 8 March 2014, Lazović made his official re-debut for the club against his former club, Radnički Kragujevac, and scored a goal from the penalty spot in a 5–0 away win.[31] During the 2013–14 season, Lazović played ten matches and scored six goals.

Lazović played his first match in the 2014–15 season against HB on 15 July 2014, in the second qualifying round of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League, where he scored a brace and provided an assist in a 3–0 home win.[32] On 31 August 2014, Lazović scored a brace in a 4–0 away league win over Rad.[33] He has ended the first part of the season with 12 goals and 8 assists in 28 appearances in all competitions.

Beijing BG

On 16 February 2015, Lazović transferred to China League One side Beijing BG.[34]

Olimpija Ljubljana

On 25 February 2016, Lazović transferred to Slovenian PrvaLiga side Olimpija Ljubljana.[35] He left the club on 20 April 2016 without making a single appearance for the club, as he did not obtain a work permit.[36]

Videoton

In June 2016, Lazović was signed by Hungarian club Videoton, playing in the Nemzeti Bajnokság I.[37] While with the team, the veteran scorer played a key part in their in success as the runners-up for the 2016–17 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season and winning the 2017–18 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season as the team's leading scorer.[38] At the beginning of the 2018–19 season he captained them to reach the group stage of the UEFA Europe League but retired before its start in September 2018.[39]

International career
Lazović at the Serbian national team

Lazović made his international debut for the Yugoslav national team on 27 March 2002, in a friendly match against Brazil in Fortaleza.

After the Serbia and Montenegro split, Lazović played for Serbia, and scored the first goal ever in international football for Serbia; an equalizer in their friendly against the Czech Republic on 16 August 2006 in Uherské Hradiště, which they went on to win 3–1.

In March 2011, two weeks before a crucial Euro 2012 qualifier against Northern Ireland, Lazović decided to retire from the national team at the age of 27, choosing to focus on his club Zenit. On the same occasion, his club colleague from Zenit Aleksandar Luković also made the same announcement.

Career statistics

[40]

Club
Club Season League Cup Continental Other[41] Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Teleoptik (loan) 2000–01 237———237
Partizan 2000–01 800000—80
2001–02 2690010—279
2002–03 26112163—3415
Total 60202173—6924
Feyenoord 2003–04 2361020—266
2004–05 1832150—254
Total 4193170—5110
Bayer Leverkusen (loan) 2005–06 901310—113
Partizan (loan) 2005–06 1150000—115
Vitesse 2006–07 321921—523922
PSV 2007–08 311100123004314
2008–09 2782231113312
2009–10 2453111100387
Total 8224532651111433
Zenit Saint Petersburg 2010 2055111300369
2011–12 31123060104112
Total 511781173107721
Rostov (loan) 2012–13 9120—21132
Partizan 2013–14 1060000—106
2014–15 15920113—2812
Total 251520113—3818
Beijing BG 2015 281332——3115
Videoton / MOL Vidi 2016–17 30100010—3110
2017–18 25143082—3616
2018–19 610072—133
Total 612530164—8029
Career total 4321553112851894557189

International
Serbia national team
YearAppsGoals
200210
200300
200430
200500
200663
200782
200862
200993
2010101
201100
201200
201300
201440
Total4711

International goals

[40]

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.16 August 2006Městský fotbalový stadion Miroslava Valenty, Uherské Hradiště, Czech Republic Czech Republic1–11–3Friendly
2.6 September 2006Polish Army Stadium, Warsaw, Poland Poland1–11–1UEFA Euro 2008 qual.
3.11 October 2006Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia Armenia2–03–0UEFA Euro 2008 qual.
4.17 October 2007Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan Azerbaijan1–61–6UEFA Euro 2008 qual.
5.21 November 2007Stadion Crvena Zvezda, Beograd, Serbia Poland2–22–2UEFA Euro 2008 qual.
6.6 February 2008Philip II Arena, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Macedonia0–11–1Friendly
7.19 November 2008Partizan Stadium, Beograd, Serbia Bulgaria6–16–1Friendly
8.10 February 2009GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus Cyprus0–20–2Friendly
9.12 August 2009Super Stadium, Atteridgeville, South Africa South Africa0–21–3Friendly
10.14 November 2009Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland Northern Ireland0–10–1Friendly
11.3 September 2010Tórsvøllur, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands Faroe Islands0–10–3UEFA Euro 2012 qual.

Honours
Partizan
PSV
Zenit Saint Petersburg
Videoton

References
  1. Lazović potpisao za Partizan, srećan zbog povratka
  2. "Europas Top-Ligen 2018/2019". Kicker. p. 186.
  3. "Lazovic set for Leverkusen". Sky Sports. 10 August 2005. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  4. "Lazovic out to impress". Sky Sports. 22 August 2005. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  5. "Lazovic leaves Bayer". Sky Sports. 22 January 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  6. Vujičin, Igor (4 May 2006). "Tuča Saveljića i Lazovića?" (in Serbian). b92.net. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  7. "Vitesse land Lazovic". Sky Sports. 7 July 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  8. "Vitesse start with win". Sky Sports. 18 August 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  9. "PSV chase Lazovic". Sky Sports. 4 January 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  10. "Lazović cheered by PSV move". UEFA.com. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  11. "Danko Lazovic: "Eindelijk komt mijn droom uit"" (in Dutch). PSV.nl. 7 June 2007. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  12. "Danko Lazovic neukt de moeder van Huub Stevens" (in Dutch). EnDanDit. 18 November 2008. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  13. "Lazovic houdt van fetish" (in Dutch). Dumpert.nl. 19 November 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  14. Данко Лазович – игрок "Зенита" (in Russian). fc-zenit.ru. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  15. "Official: Danko Lazovic Leaves PSV For Zenit St. Petersburg". Goal.com. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  16. "Reactie Fred Rutten op vertrek Danko Lazovic" (in Dutch). PSV.nl. 3 March 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  17. "Матч Кр. Советов 0–1 Зенит". RFPL. 13 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  18. "Zenit zip proves too much for AEK". UEFA.com. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
  19. "Police accused of tasering Zenit St Petersburg's Danko Lazovic". The Guardian. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  20. Шмонин: в руках омоновца был электрошокер, но он не применялся (in Russian). Chempionat.com. 19 June 2011. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  21. Подтверждён факт причинения вреда здоровью Лазовича (in Russian). Chempionat.com. 19 June 2011. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  22. "Lazović, Huszti, Rosina and Borodin not invited to training camp". FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  23. "Lazovic: currently train separately from the "Zenith"" [Лазович: на данный момент тренируюсь отдельно от "Зенита"] (in Russian). Chempionat.com. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  24. ""Legia" considering purchasing Lazovic "Zenith"" ["Легия" рассматривает возможность приобретения Лазовича у "Зенита"] (in Russian). Chempionat.com. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  25. "Lazovic: waiting for completion of the contract with "Zenith", which then - I do not know" [Лазович: жду завершения контракта с "Зенитом", куда потом – не знаю] (in Russian). Chempionat.com. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  26. "Danko Lazovic continues his career in the "Rostov"" [Danko Lazovic seguirá su carrera en el FC Rostov] (in Spanish). FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. 28 February 2013. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  27. "Alaniya vs. Rostov 0 - 0". Soccerway. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  28. "Shikunov: negotiating the transition to another club Golendy" [Шикунов: ведутся переговоры о переходе Голенды в другой клуб] (in Russian). Chempionat.com. 29 June 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  29. Lazović po treći put među crno-belima at partizan.rs, 20-1-2014 (in Serbian)
  30. "Lazovic agreed the signing of "Partizan"" [Лазович договорился о подписании контракта с "Партизаном"] (in Russian). Chempionat.com. 20 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
  31. "Raspucan Partizan oduševio Grobare" (in Serbian). mondo.rs. 8 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
  32. "Lazović harasses HB with Partizan". UEFA.com. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  33. "Nema šale sa evropskim Partizanom!" [There is no kidding with European Partizan] (in Serbian). sr.partizan.rs. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  34. 北控签约塞尔维亚国脚 at sports.sohu.com 2015-02-16 Retrieved 2014-02-17
  35. R. K; M. R. (25 February 2016). "V Ljubljani najbolj odmevna okrepitev po Prosinečkem" (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  36. R.K.; M.R.; M.L. (20 April 2016). "Mandarić potrdil odhod Stojića in Lazovića, Vanoli na sestanku" [Mandaric confirmed departure of Stojic and Lazovic] (in Slovenian). RTV Slovenija. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  37. "NB I: nagy név! 47-szeres szerb válogatott támadót igazolt a Videoton" (in Hungarian). Nemzeti Sport. 28 June 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  38. "NB I 2017-18 Results". www.soccerway.com. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  39. "Danko Lazovic leaves Vidi". www.molvidi.hu. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  40. "D. Lazović". Soccerway. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
  41. Includes other competitive competitions, including the Dutch playoff, Johan Cruijff Shield, and Russian play-offs
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