Kiril Lazarov’s left hand will forever hold a significant place in handball history, with over 1,000 goals in the Champions League and nearly 2,000 for the national team that people will always remember…

Recognized as a legend and undeniably one of the greatest handball players ever, Lazarov stands out as the finest talent North Macedonia has ever produced.

The journey of the man who conquered the Champions League and led his country in many major tournaments started under challenging circumstances.

“I began in a small town named Sveti Nikola, practicing on concrete. We lacked a proper hall, and when we eventually got one, it was not even regulation-sized. We had to improvise to draw a six-meter line for our training. This demonstrates that when you are determined, you can achieve greatness against all odds,” Lazarov shared during the show “Failure of the Champion,” hosted by another renowned handball player, Mirza Dzomba.

Sveti Nikola is located approximately 60 kilometers from Skopje and has a population of just over 13,000.

“I have no qualms about admitting I’m from a small town; in fact, I take great pride in having made it to the big stage from such humble beginnings,” he stated.

If you want to identify talent, hand someone a basketball.

Like the Montenegrin icon Veselin Vujović, Lazarov initially trained in basketball.

“To gauge if a young athlete has talent, simply hand them a basketball during warm-ups. If they struggle with it, the likelihood of them becoming a top sportsman decreases significantly. Basketball is an intellectually stimulating and beautiful game; it influenced me greatly,” Lazarov explained.

His first idol? A basketball player—Toni Kukoč.

“I admired his three-pointers, his two-step moves, passing ability, calm demeanor, and intelligence on the court. One reason I chose the number seven was because of him. We all had role models in our time, and I think today’s generations are missing that—having an idol can truly inspire success,” he remarked.

Practice makes perfect

Throughout his illustrious career, the legendary Kire has worked with numerous top coaches.

“I had the chance to learn from the finest, including Lino Červar and Ćavi Paskval, experiencing various clubs and training environments in Croatia, Hungary, Spain, and France. It’s essential to study and read, but at the end of the day, practice is crucial,” he commented.

This brought Džomba to interject, “Absolutely, I learned a lot from Červar, and I have immense respect for him, but it’s not easy training with him nor with myself… He has been a tremendous help to me.”

I cried in Belgrade

Despite amassing numerous victories and bringing unmatched joy to his nation, many fans recall one pivotal moment that slipped through his fingers. During the European Championship held in Serbia in 2012, North Macedonia had a chance to defeat the mighty Denmark. Lazarov took the shot, but Niklas Landin made the save, allowing Denmark to clinch the win with a shocking counterattack.

A victory there could have propelled North Macedonia into the semi-finals.

“Even today, when people see me, they remind me of that moment in Serbia. Many overlook all the positive contributions I’ve made but bring that up instead. I found it incredibly tough and felt heartbroken after that match, despite having scored 13 goals against Denmark and Landin. But missing that 14th shot was devastating,” he reflected.

I received offers from Croatia and Hungary, but I don’t want to collect points

There have been invitations for Lazarov to represent stronger national teams than North Macedonia’s.

“I’m not interested in collecting points for fame in that way. Croatia and Hungary approached me; I knew I could have pursued medals with them. There has always been a shortage of left-handed players, and a lot of speculation surrounded my potential transfer, but it was always my choice not to go. I want it understood—I could have, but I chose to stay because of my commitment to you. I’m content with my decision,” he said.

Currently, he serves as the coach for North Macedonia, having once held dual roles as both player and coach.

“I took a bold step; not many can claim they were active players and coaches simultaneously. We wanted to avoid a decline and instead strive to cultivate a new generation. We understand the challenges, especially in a small country like North Macedonia, where handball is beloved, and people take pride in competing at major events,” he added.

Additionally, he is involved in a new club called Alkaloid, which aims to be a model for many in Montenegro.

“We established it to identify young talents from across the country and offer them opportunities. We’ve succeeded; we won the Cup and the Supercup, with just two internationals on our team,” the legendary Macedonian concluded.

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