The Montenegrin women’s handball team has a new head coach, Suzana Lazović, as announced by the RSCG.

Lazović takes over from Bojana Popović and is the seventh coach to lead the team since the country’s independence was restored.

“I am honored to accept this role as the new coach, as determined by the Association’s Board of Directors. Leading these talented girls fills me with pride. I experienced the pinnacle of success with the national team as a player, and now I have the immense trust of the Association to guide the new generation of ‘lionesses.’ This is another dream fulfilled, and I am confident we will make our supporters proud. I promise dedication and full commitment to achieving results that honor our tradition. I look forward to the support of everyone, especially our fans, who have always been our greatest asset,” expressed Lazović.

The “lionesses” will have their initial gathering with the new coach in September during the EHF week, providing a chance for Lazović to familiarize herself with the team and assess the players vying for spots at the European Championship, set to take place from November 28 in Hungary, Austria, and Switzerland.

“I will conduct interviews with all players who have been part of the national team roster, as well as those included in the broader squad. Although there may not be enough opportunities to see every player in action now, each girl will receive her chance in the near future. Our focus is the European Championship at the end of November, but the immediate goal is to give our young talents an opportunity and ensure our strategy is aimed at restoring handball to former heights of success. While it will take time, I have faith that we will succeed,” concluded Lazović.

This appointment marks a return for Suzana Lazović to Montenegrin handball, having previously served as Bojana Popović’s assistant for the under-18 national team at the World Championship in Poland in 2018, and as head coach at the European Under-19 Championship in Hungary a year later.

Having previously achieved remarkable success with the junior national team of China, the celebrated pivot of our national squad, who won a silver Olympic medal and a European gold medal with Montenegro in 2012, returns to the “lionesses” bench.

During her tenure there, she successfully led the team to qualify for the main round of the Women’s U20 World Championship in North Macedonia in June.

In addition to her senior-level achievements with Montenegro, Lazović was part of the team that secured a bronze medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship.

As a member of Budućnost, she clinched two EHF Champions League titles in 2012 and 2015.

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