Stan Lazaridis

Personal Details Date of Birth: 16 August 1972 Place of Birth: Perth, Western Australia Height: 175cm (5' 9") Position: Left Back / Left Midfield Club Summary Club Games Goals Kingsway Olympic (junior) - - Stirling Macedonia (1990) ? ? Floreat Athena (1991-1992) 28 2 West Adelaide (1992-1995) 73 5 West Ham United (1995-1999) 87 3 Birmingham City (1999-2006) 222 8 Perth Glory (2006-2008) 13 0 Total International Summary Games Goals Australia Under-17 (1989) 5 2 Australia 'A' (1993-2006) 60 0 Australia 'B' (1993-1999) 11 0 Australia Under-23 (2000, overage player) 3 0

Career Brief

With 60 'A' caps to his credit, Lazaridis is one of the all-time greats of Australian football. His penetrating runs down the left flank and superb delivery into the area made Lazaridis a club and country favourite throughout a professional career that took him to the highest levels the game has to offer. It was as a fleet-footed teenager with Kingsway Olympic that Lazaridis first came to prominence by representing Australia in qualifiers for the 1989 Under-17 World Youth Championship.

Lazaridis was 18 when he debuted for the senior State team against Moscow Torpedo, after which he played a seasons and a half with Floreat Athena. Always destined to play on a bigger stage, he joined West Adelaide and in August 1992 played his first national league game against Preston Makedonia. A constant avenue into attack for Hellas, he caused many a defender headaches during his three seasons in the National Soccer League.

Lazaridis gained his first Australia caps by playing both games of a friendly series with Kuwait in April 1993. He made a handful of 'B' appearances in the months that followed as well as turning out in September's friendly draw with South Korea. 1994 was highlighted by outings with South Africa, Kuwait and Japan, while his reputation was only enhanced with standout performances against Colombia, Japan, Ghana and Argentina in the first half of 1995.

Having caught the eye of West Ham United officials, Lazaridis was quickly invited for trials then added to the London club's playing roster. An English Premier League debut arrived in September against Chelsea but after only three further appearances he suffered a broken leg which effectively ended his first season at the club. A return to full fitness for 1996/97 led to not only to regular game time but also a Socceroos call-up against Hungary in April 1997.

During the English off-season Lazaridis helped Australia negotiate the Oceania phase of World Cup qualification, figuring prominently against the Soloman Islands, Tahiti and New Zealand. But the Socceroos were denied a spot at France '98 by Iran, who came from behind to 'triumph' on a night of high drama in Melbourne. That heartbreak was tempered somewhat by Australia progressing to the final of the Confederations Cup where Lazaridis turned out against Mexico, host nation Saudi Arabia and Uruguay and Brazil, who lifted the trophy.

Lazaridis slotted straight back into the Hammers match day line-up on his return to club duty and in early 1998 signed a new five-year contract, however, it didn't all go to plan. 1998/99 was a season of endless frustration with the wingback overcoming an early groin injury only then find himself out of favour with the coaching staff. Again, the national team provided some respite in the form of 'B' outings with the World Stars and Manchester United during June 1999.

In July 1999 Lazaridis transferred to Division One club Birmingham City, playing 35 club games in his first season in addition to Socceroo appearances against Hungary and the Czech Republic. A couple of friendly appearances against Paraguay preceded his lining up at the Oceania Nations Cup against the Cook Islands, the Soloman Islands, Vanuatu and New Zealand. These were followed by trio of games an an overage player at the Sydney Olympic Games of September 2000.

Over the next few years Lazaridis became a favourite of the Birmingham faithful. He played a key role in the Blues' qualification for the 2001 League Cup Final, which Liverpool won in a penalty shootout. On the international front he turned out in friendlies with Scotland, France, England and Ireland; at the Confederations Cup against Mexico, France, Japan and Brazil; and in World Cup qualifiers with New Zealand and Uruguay.

Lazaridis helped Birmingham back into England's top flight at the end of 2002/03, beating Norwich City in the play-offs. Among the highlights of his Premier League return was the winning goal against arch-rivals Aston Villa in March 2003, and a classic strike against Everton in February 2004. A friendly outing with Venezuela that month was followed by others against South Africa and Turkey, the game in Melbourne against the latter being Lazaridis' 50th 'A' appearance.

In May and June 2004 Lazaridis featured in World Cup qualifiers with New Zealand, Tahiti and Vanuata. Over the next twelve months he played games against Norway, Iraq, Indonesia, the Soloman Islands, Greece and Liechenstein but was unable to force his way into the Socceroos line-up for any of their four matches at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Released at the end of his seventh season with Birmingham, Lazaridis headed home to play his finals years at Perth Glory. He exited the international stage to a standing ovation in the November 2006 friendly with Paraguay.

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This page was last updated on the 1st June 2010.