Kiril Lazarov discusses commitment to Macedonian handball

Kiril Lazarov, the head coach of Alkaloid and the Macedonian national handball team, has spoken emotionally about his decision to return to North Macedonia to pursue a coaching career. Lazarov emphasized that his return was motivated by patriotism and a desire to support the development of domestic handball rather than financial or personal gain.

Lazarov noted that he has dedicated 25 years as a player and approximately six years as a coach to the sport in his country. He expressed a desire for respect regarding his commitment, stating that he chose to enter what he described as a “chaos and problem” within the local handball scene to ensure a new generation of players can successfully replace the old one without a decline in performance.

Lazarov transitioned to coaching shortly after retiring as a player in 2022, having previously been appointed as the national team selector in 2021. His club, Alkaloid, is currently preparing for the new season, which includes competing in the newly formed Regional League.