Zdravko Lazarov


Zdravko Lazarov is a Bulgarian retired professional footballer who is the current manager of Vihren Sandanski.
Lazarov's professional playing career as a winger spanned nearly 30 years, during which he played for 15 different clubs in Bulgaria, Turkey and Russia.
Lazarov was capped 31 times for the Bulgarian national team, scoring 3 times. He appeared in the 2004 UEFA European Championship.

Career

Lazarov started his career in his home town Septemvri in the local team FC Locomotiv Septemvri. After that, Lazarov played for Chardafon Gabrovo. After two very good seasons, he signed with Bulgarian grand CSKA Sofia. He did not impress with his performance and was sold to Minyor Pernik. In June 1998, Lazarov signed with the other Bulgarian grand Levski Sofia. Between 1999 and 2001 he played for Slavia Sofia. After that, he went in the Turkish Turkcell Super League where he played for Kocaelispor, Gaziantepspor and Kayseri Erciyesspor. For six seasons in Turkey he played in 202 games and scored 76 goals.
In July 2007, Zdravko returned in Bulgaria and signed with Slavia Sofia. After spending half a season with Slavia and participating in 11 games, in which he scored 8 goals, in December 2007, he signed with the Russian side Shinnik Yaroslavl. In 2008, he returned to Bulgaria, playing for CSKA Sofia once more. He scored 2 goals in 15 games before getting sidelined for six months due to an injury in the game against Litex Lovech. On 11 June 2009 he terminated his contract with CSKA with immediate effect after a meeting with the club's bosses.
On 15 June 2009, Lazarov signed with Cherno More Varna for two years. He took number 11, which at that time was worn by Georgi Kakalov, but Kakalov stepped it back to Lazarov. He made his team début on 7 July, in a friendly game against Levski Sofia.
In January 2010, Lazarov completed his move to Lokomotiv Plovdiv on a free transfer. He made his league debut for Lokomotiv on 27 February in a 3–2 away loss against CSKA Sofia, scoring a two penalties. Lazarov was promoted to club captain at the start of the 2010–11 season. During the entire season, he scored 14 goals in the league. On 15 March 2012, Lazarov scored the winning goal against Levski Sofia in a 1/4 final match of the Bulgarian Cup. On 7 August 2012, his contract was terminated.
Two days later, Lazarov joined Slavia Sofia for the third time in his career.
Lazarov player for Hebar Pazardzhik one season but left the club in June 2017.

Managerial career

In 2016–17 season, Lazarov was the playing assistant manager of Bulgarian Third League side Hebar Pazardzhik.
On 27 August 2018, Lazarov was appointed manager of Bulgarian Third League club Vihren Sandanski. In his first season, he led the club to third place in the South-West Third League.

Career statistics

Club

National team

International goals

NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.28 April 2004Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria3–03–0Friendly
2.8 October 2005Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria2–02–02006 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.26 March 2008Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria1–12–1Friendly

Honours

Club

; Kocaelispor
; Kayseri Erciyesspor