This is me: Suzana Lazovic

This is me: Suzana Lazovic

I was eight years old when my sporting journey began, but not in handball. It started on a judo mat. Judo shaped my early years, and I was quite successful at it, winning 13 gold medals and even becoming the champion of what was then Serbia and Montenegro.

My dad, Vladimir, and my physical education (PE) teacher were key figures in those years when it came to sports. The PE teacher believed handball was the perfect sport for me and he convinced my dad to take me to my first handball practice. Initially, I tried at school and later my dad took me to my first training.

That first training session was with Dragan Adžic, who coached me for almost my entire career, and as he evolved as a coach, I grew alongside him as a player. It was a 12-year journey under his guidance.

At the start, I balanced both judo and handball for about a year. But as competitions started to overlap, I had to choose. My dad sat me down and told me I needed to choose. He explained what I stood to gain and lose with each sport. He knew about my dream of competing in the Olympics and, somehow, he had this gut feeling that handball would be the sport to take me there.

My dad was always the driving force behind my athletic pursuits. When it came to the psychological and emotional aspects, my mom, Rena, stepped in. She was more focused on education and ensuring I had a balanced approach to both. And then there was my brother, Sergej, who, along with my parents, supported me through every decision I made. My family was my foundation that helped me navigate the challenges.

Switching from an individual sport like judo to a team sport like handball was no easy task, especially since I had become a leader in judo at a young age. In handball, I was starting from scratch, surrounded by players who had years of experience. It felt like being at the bottom again, trying to catch up.

Again, Adžic played a role in motivating me to stick with it, and in the end he was right. I made all my dreams come true with handball.

By sixteen, I signed my first professional contract and handball turned from a hobby into a real career. Signing that contract came with sacrifices, you no longer have that common childhood and you often miss things your peers do not, but my love for the sport never wavered. Even as a professional, my passion remained the same.

Growing up, I admired several handball players, but Igor Vori stood out for me. I never aspired to be just like him or play like him or anyone else. I always wanted to be myself and be the best version of myself. However, the way Vori set the respect and played a crucial role in his team inspired me to establish my place in the team sport and have the same important role in my team.

I spent my entire playing career at Buducnost. I had offers from other clubs, including one Danish team that offered more money, but for me, money was never the motivation. I believed in the system that Buducnost was building under Dragan Adžic and Predrag Boškovic. We had a dream and a plan, and I wanted to be part of that.

Buducnost became my home, a place where I grew up and built unforgettable memories. They were there for me through it all, always giving me the support I needed. Maybe if I had left and challenged myself in different systems and different clubs, it would have been of help today for me as a coach, but I do not regret anything.

Winning two EHF Champions League titles with Buducnost was surreal. The first one in 2012 stands out because the competition format was different then. No Final Four, just home and away matches where the aggregate score determines the winner. The atmosphere in Podgorica was electric and that memory is irreplaceable. When you achieve something so great in front of your fans in your venue!

That 2012 has a special place in everyone's heart, not only mine, I think. The club's success was only the start. In the summer, I finally saw my long dream come to life in London. Not only were we competing at the Olympics, we came home with a silver medal. Only a few months later, we added European gold to the mix. 

It's a rare thing to win it all, and I am proud I can say we made it with Montenegro. Only a year before we failed to progress from the group phase at the IHF World Championship in Brazil and I like to say it was all a result of hard work and patience. The failure made us stronger.

We had one more Final Four appearance in the 2013/14 season and finished second, and I cherish the award for the best defender. The second title with Buducnost in 2015 was something different, the Final Four one, but also unforgettable. In a way, it helped me decide to quit my professional career, coming just before injuries that forced me to reconsider my path. It is easier when you are saying goodbye with a prestige title in your hands.

Injuries were a huge part of my story and I endured seven major surgeries. At sixteen, I had my first encounter with the devastating news that I might not be able to continue with not only handball, but sport in general — a severely herniated disc and doctors were telling me to give up.

My mom even looked into alternative sports for me and found shooting sports because everyone knew my dream was the Olympics. Through a stroke of luck, I met Damir Radoncic, who had the same problem as I did and he recommended a surgeon in Germany — Athour Gevargez, MD, with whom I am still in contact. The surgery was successful and I came back stronger.

I was very sociable during the injury period, surrounded by many friends, but unfortunately, as circumstances changed, friends gradually disappeared, and only the true ones remained. Yet, my family was always there, never giving up on me, always by my side, and they were my greatest support.

No matter how much I talk about how difficult it was for me, I believe it was even harder for my parents. I am so grateful to have them and for everything they have provided throughout my life. Their unwavering support has been there since the moment I was born, or at least from the moment I became aware of everything they had done for me, up to this very day. I only truly understood the depth of that support as I grew older.

Each injury tested me physically and mentally. From back surgeries to a heart ablation and, eventually, a neck injury. The reason I had to go through seven surgeries might be because I started professional sports at a young age. My body was not ready for it at that time, which took a toll. After each injury, I rushed to get back, eager to be part of the team for key matches and major competitions.

In some cases, my lack of commitment to physical therapy also contributed to the issues. We were all still young and often were not fully aware of what our bodies were going through. We did not always maintain a healthy lifestyle and thought about the future. I even tried to come back after that last neck surgery, but everything became more serious when they suspected I had a tumour. On one hand, I had my handball career, and on the other, my life. I chose life.

I wasn't aware of it then, but I think God rewarded me for that sacrifice and willingness to give myself to the team. So now, as a coach, I am very aware that at the age of 20, I achieved enormous success. Although it wasn't easy, I can say I fulfilled my dream and achieved everything I wanted. Maybe there was much more I could have given as a player, but now I am trying to give back to handball as a coach.

Those experiences completely changed me. It transformed the way I view life, especially my commitment to things I'm passionate about. If I compare myself as a player to who I am now as a coach, I see two entirely different people. I haven't changed at my core, I never will, but I have matured mentally and become more self-aware. I started to believe in myself more than I ever did as a player.

I never imagined becoming a coach. But after my neck surgery, Bojana Popovic invited me to assist with the junior national team. Within months, I discovered a new passion. Coaching was a completely different experience, but one where I felt fulfilled and driven.

I worked as a Montenegro junior national team head coach, spent a very productive three years in China working with senior, junior and youth teams and now in Hungary with Alba Fehervar. All those jobs shaped me into who I am today as a coach.

In China, I learned the value of hard work and the intensity of their training schedules accelerated my development as a coach. We achieved a historic result together — for the first time in 33 years, China ranked among the top 16 teams at the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship. During that same period, they hadn't defeated a single European team, but we managed to break that by winning against Czechia and North Macedonia.

Now, as the head coach of Montenegro, it feels like a full circle. It's an honour and a responsibility I cherish deeply. I owe great thanks to the Handball Federation of Montenegro, the board and President Petar Kapisoda for their trust.

Our goal is to rekindle the fighting spirit that defined Montenegrin handball, the "Lioness" who never backs down. Success isn't just about winning; it's about how we play, the unity we show, and the energy we bring to every game. 

I'm a young coach and I'll grow alongside this team, but I live for the challenges. I think I understand the players I once played alongside; I know what to expect from them, and I've received incredible respect and happiness from them for us to work together. My first big challenge with them will be the European Championship in 2024.

When I think about the European Championship, I know the moment that will hit me the hardest is when I hear our national anthem, standing there as head coach of Montenegro. Just the thought of it fills me with pride and motivation. Honestly, I hope I can keep my emotions under control.

The last time I experienced something similar was at the IHF Women’s Junior World Championship in Macedonia with the Chinese team. As soon as I heard Montenegro's anthem, I couldn't hold back. The tears just started falling. I think it's going to be the same at the European Championship, but that moment will also feel like the first real step toward everything we are trying to achieve.

I'm so proud and excited to be part of this event, surrounded by the best players and coaches. It's where tactics and mental strength are tested to the limit, and I can't even fully express what this means to me. I think I'll feel like the happiest person alive because this is a dream every coach works for, and it feels incredible to have this chance.

Looking to the future, I know my job won't be easy. There will be hard work, sacrifices, and a lot of dedication. But I have never stopped dreaming. As I had my dream when I was just beginning my playing career, now I have one for my coaching career — to achieve the same as I did as a player.

No matter if that is possible or not, hope is always there. And that ambition drives me forward.

It's a dream I'll keep chasing, step by step.

Suzana Lazovic

November 2024

Main photo © Sasa Pahic Szabo / Kolektiff Images (main and in-text), EHF archives (in-text)