# Nikola Lazetić

Nikola Lazetić (Serbian Cyrillic: Никола Лазетић; born 9 February 1978) is a Serbian retired footballer who played as a winger.

## Club career

Born in Kosovska Mitrovica, Lazetić started out at his hometown club Trepča. He was later discovered by Tomislav Milićević who brought him to Red Star Belgrade. In December 1995, Lazetić made his league debut for the club in a 5–1 home win over Proleter Zrenjanin. He made three more appearances in the second half of the 1995–96 season. In the summer of 1996, Lazetić was loaned to Budućnost Valjevo, before returning to Red Star in the second part of the 1996–97 season. He also played on dual registration for Hajduk Beograd during the spring of 1997.
In the summer of 1998, Lazetić signed a contract with Vojvodina, helping them reach the 1998 UEFA Intertoto Cup final. He subsequently moved to Obilić in a controversial transfer during the winter of 1999, spending the next year and a half at the club. After his retirement, he confirmed that he had been brought to Obilić against his will.
In May 2000, Lazetić was sold to Turkish club Fenerbahçe for an undisclosed fee. He helped them win the league in his debut season, contributing with five goals in 30 appearances. In his second year, Lazetić appeared in 16 league games and scored once, as the team finished runners-up to Galatasaray.
In June 2002, Lazetić moved to Italy and joined Serie A newcomers Como. He was loaned to Chievo three months later, without making his debut for Como. In January 2003, Lazetić's rights were transferred to Lazio until the end of the season.
In July 2003, Lazetić joined fellow Serie A club Siena on a season-long loan from Como. He was subsequently sold to Serie B side Genoa, but remained on loan at Siena. In August 2005, Lazetić signed a two-year contract with Serie A club Livorno. He later moved to Serie B side Torino in January 2006, helping them win promotion to the top flight. Afterwards, Lazetić spent two more seasons at the club.
In August 2008, Lazetić returned to Serbia and joined his parent club Red Star Belgrade, signing a two-year contract. He captained the side that won the 2009–10 Serbian Cup. In June 2010, Lazetić left the club after failing to agree to a contract extension.
In August 2010, Lazetić signed a one-year deal with his former club Vojvodina. He helped the team reach the 2010–11 Serbian Cup final, before leaving at the end of his contract.

## International career

At international level, Lazetić made his debut for Serbia and Montenegro (formerly known as FR Yugoslavia) in a September 1998 friendly match away against Brazil, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute for Predrag Mijatović, and earned a total of 25 caps, scoring 1 goal. His final international was an April 2003 friendly away against Germany.

## Post-playing career

In June 2019, Lazetić was appointed as sporting director of Vojvodina.

## Personal life

Lazetić is the older brother of fellow former footballer Žarko Lazetić.
He appeared as the main protagonist in popular Serbian folk singer Svetlana Ceca Ražnatović's video 'Red' in which he portrayed a mobster.

## Career statistics
### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals |
| Red Star Belgrade | 1995–96 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 4 | 0 |
| Red Star Belgrade | 1996–97 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 11 | 0 |
| Red Star Belgrade | Total | Total | 15 | 0 |
| Budućnost Valjevo (loan) | 1996–97 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 8 | 2 |
| Hajduk Beograd (loan) | 1996–97 | Second League of FR Yugoslavia | | |
| Milicionar (loan) | 1997–98 | Second League of FR Yugoslavia | | |
| Železnik (loan) | 1997–98 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 4 | 1 |
| Vojvodina | 1998–99 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 12 | 0 |
| Obilić | 1998–99 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 7 | 2 |
| Obilić | 1999–2000 | First League of FR Yugoslavia | 28 | 7 |
| Obilić | Total | Total | 35 | 9 |
| Fenerbahçe | 2000–01 | Süper Lig | 30 | 5 |
| Fenerbahçe | 2001–02 | Süper Lig | 16 | 1 |
| Fenerbahçe | Total | Total | 46 | 6 |
| Como | 2002–03 | Serie A | 0 | 0 |
| Chievo (loan) | 2002–03 | Serie A | 11 | 0 |
| Lazio (loan) | 2002–03 | Serie A | 5 | 0 |
| Siena (loan) | 2003–04 | Serie A | 31 | 2 |
| Genoa | 2004–05 | Serie B | 39 | 1 |
| Livorno | 2005–06 | Serie A | 16 | 0 |
| Torino | 2005–06 | Serie B | 14 | 0 |
| Torino | 2006–07 | Serie A | 28 | 0 |
| Torino | 2007–08 | Serie A | 15 | 0 |
| Torino | Total | Total | 57 | 0 |
| Red Star Belgrade | 2008–09 | Serbian SuperLiga | 21 | 3 |
| Red Star Belgrade | 2009–10 | Serbian SuperLiga | 20 | 0 |
| Red Star Belgrade | Total | Total | 41 | 3 |
| Vojvodina | 2010–11 | Serbian SuperLiga | 19 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 339 | 26 |

### International

Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| FR Yugoslavia | 1998 | 1 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 1999 | 0 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 2000 | 3 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 2001 | 9 | 0 |
| FR Yugoslavia | 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| Serbia and Montenegro | 2003 | 3 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 25 | 1 |

## Honours

Red Star Belgrade
* FR Yugoslavia Cup: 1996–97
* Serbian Cup: 2009–10
Fenerbahçe
* Süper Lig: 2000–01
Individual
* Serbian SuperLiga Team of the Season: 2009–10