Chennaiyin FC Bolsters Defense with Serbian Defender Lazar Cirkovic Signing

Chennaiyin FC has officially welcomed Serbian defender Lazar Cirkovic to their squad in preparation for the 2023-24 season, as announced by the Indian Super League (ISL) club on Tuesday.

Cirkovic becomes the fifth foreign player to join the club ahead of the upcoming ISL season.

Expressing his enthusiasm about the acquisition, Chennaiyin FC  head coach Owen Coyle stated, “We’re delighted to bring Laz out to the club. We’ve pursued him for a while. He’s garnered significant interest from various clubs due to his high-level play and impressive track record. He’s a tremendous addition. Having played at the highest level, he brings knowledge and quality to the team. A fantastic signing for the club,” as conveyed to the club’s media team.

In the 2022-23 season, Cirkovic last played for Hungarian club Budapest Honved FC, featuring in 17 matches in the Hungarian First Division. Most of his senior football experience was gained in the Serbian First Division, where he made a total of 146 appearances for FK Rad, FK Partizan Belgrade, and Kisvarda FC.

Additionally, Cirkovic has also played for Swiss club FC Luzern and Israeli side Maccabi Netanya.

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Eager to embrace the Indian challenge, the 31-year-old defender remarked, “I’m very excited for the Indian challenge. I can’t wait to get onto the pitch and fight for my new colors, teammates, and fans. See you soon, Chennai.”

Cirkovic boasts an impressive record, having secured the Serbian First Division and Serbian Cup titles twice with FK Partizan Belgrade between 2014 and 2017, including a double in the 2016-17 season.

He has also represented his former clubs in European competitions, making eight appearances in the UEFA Europa League, where he faced renowned teams like Tottenham Hotspur. Additionally, he participated in six UEFA Champions League Qualifiers matches.

At the international level, Cirkovic has represented the Serbian National Football Team at various youth levels, including U-21, U-19, and U-18.

As Chennaiyin FC gears up for the ISL 2023-24 season, their opening match is set to take place against Odisha FC in Bhubaneswar on Saturday.