• At 42 years and a month, HBC Nantes right-back Kiril Lazarov has announced his retirement from playing at the H Arena.

  • The end of a career marked by many titles for the current coach of Macedonia

When he started his career, Jacques Chirac had just been elected President of the French Republic and FC Nantes of Loko and Ouédec had just walked into Ligue 1 during a historic season.

On September 3, 1995, at the age of 15 years and 4 months, Kiril Lazarov made his big professional debut.

Twenty-seven years later, the right-back came full circle this afternoon at the H Arena, in front of his wife, children and even two journalists from Macedonia.

Saturday, at 42 years and a month, the one who has scored the most goals in a world championship (with 92 achievements) will participate in his last match against PSG in Paris in the final of the Coupe de France.

Kiril Lazarov, true legend of European handball and authority in his country, in a few figures?

The Macedonian has won 47 titles (including 4 Spanish championships and a Champions League in 2015), was top scorer in the Champions League twice (2006 and 2015) and scored the most goals in of a European championship (61 goals in seven games).

The right-back also played for the best clubs in Europe: Veszprem (2002-2007), Zagreb (2000-2002 then 2007-2010), Ciudad Real/Atletico Madrid (2010-2013), Barcelona (2013-2017) and finally , Nantes, where "King Kiril" puts an end to his career after more than 200 games and more than 650 goals.

Player, he was already coach of Macedonia

“Coming to HBCN was one of the best decisions of my career, explained, relatively moved, the player, dressed to the nines for his farewell press conference.

I can safely say that Nantes has the best audience in Europe!

" Two regrets nevertheless animate Lazarov compared to his Nantes experience: " I miss having won the French League.

In the other countries where I have played, I have always won the championship… I am also sad to have lost the Champions League final, we deserved to win it that year [in 2018 against Montpellier] !

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What about the future of "King Kiril" now?

"I remain coach [of Macedonia] and I would like to coach a club..." Contacts should not be lacking because coach Lazarov obviously already has a good reputation.

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