As a player, Kiril Lazarov was a legendary figure for North Macedonia, ensuring their best-ever finishes in both the World Championship (9th – 2015) and European Championship (5th – 2012). 

Having played for 24 years in the national team, including seven IHF Men’s World Championships (Egypt 2009 – Egypt 2021) and recording over 1,600 goals, no-one was more qualified as a player for the role of head coach for his nation, when he took over the role in February 2021, after what was then North Macedonia’s worst-ever world championship ranking – a 23rd place at Egypt 2021.

But Lazarov has a difficult task on his hands after being named as the North Macedonia head coach. He was in charge of new, worst-ever European and world championship rankings for his country: 22nd at the 2022 European Championship and 27th in the 2023 World Championship. 

When he took over from Danilo Brestovac in 2021, a rebuild was in order, with numerous long-term players moving out and youngsters being promoted, with Lazarov admitting at the time “…big work is ahead. We are in the middle of a generational change, which is a long process that will require patience. We need to qualify for important tournaments and make the steps forward accordingly…”

Four years later, it is questionable if any steps forward have been made, judging by the rankings and results.

Most recently, a tight 61:60 aggregate victory over the Faroe Islands in May confirmed the Macedonian presence at CRO/DEN/NOR 2025, but it was touch and go after a 27:34 first leg loss away, and when the Faroe Islands scored their 26th goal to make it 34:26 in their away leg in Skopje with 16 seconds remaining, there were some nervy moments for the hosts.

In the end, they did enough to squeeze through, but it did not get better in their quest to qualify for the 2026 European Championship a few months later. An expected win over Estonia (37:33) was secured in their opener, despite a 20:20 half-time score and two-goal deficit 10 minutes into the second period. Key player, left back Filip Kuzmanovski, scored seven goals with teammate and fellow key player Martin Serafimov striking 10 times.

This was followed up a few days later with a disastrous loss away against Lithuania (27:29), a team who have only qualified for two European Championships and one World Championship in their history.

Kuzmanovski again top-scored for his side, with eight goals and is one of Lazarov’s former teammates and integral player for the player-turned-coach, just like goalkeeper Nikola Mitrevski, who has been named in the extended world championship squad of 35 players, but who did not play in those European qualifiers.

Three of those players in the 35 play outside of North Macedonia: Martin Tomovski (goalkeeper), Martin Karapalevski (centre back) and Filip Taleski (left back).

But could Croatia inspire Lazarov and his team? In 2009, the IHF Men’s World Championship was also held in Croatia, with Lazarov’s 92 goals still standing as the record for one championship and his side finishing 11th – their second-highest ranking.

Lazarov and his side will likely progress to the main round thanks to a likely win against debutants Guinea, but with Hungary and Netherlands the remaining two teams making up their preliminary group, it will be hard for Lazarov and his side to carry points through.

At the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship, North Macedonia also had the Dutch in their opening group. At the Tauron Arena in Krakow, Poland, they lost by 10 (24:34), but two years later, they will be looking to get something from that clash as they hope to reignite the flame which shined so brightly once.

Coach: Kiril Lazarov

Key players: Filip Kuzmanovski (left back), Nikola Mitrevski (goalkeeper), Martin Serafimov (right back)

Qualification for CRO/DEN/NOR 2025: European Qualification - phase 2 (61:60 against Faroe Islands)

History in competition: 1999: 18th, 2009: 11th, 2013: 14th, 2015: 9th, 2017: 15th, 2019: 15th, 2021: 23rd, 2023: 27th

Group at Croatia/Denmark/Norway 2025: Group D (Guinea, North Macedonia, Netherlands, Hungary)