Lazo Džepina (Serbian Cyrillic: Лазо Џепина; born October 27, 1966) is a Croatian Serb businessman, football manager, and former football player.
 Džepina in 2010 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lazo Džepina | ||
| Date of birth | October 27, 1966 | ||
| Place of birth | Knin, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1985–1990 | Dinara | ||
| 1990–1995 | Rad | ||
| 1996–2000 | Borac Banja Luka | ||
| 2005 | Hamilton Thunder | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2010 | Dinara | ||
| 2010–2011 | Brantford Galaxy | ||
| 2011–2016 | SC Waterloo Region | ||
| 2022–2024 | Dinara | ||
| 2024– | NK Janjevo Kistanje | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
His playing career initially began with Dinara, and later in the First League of FR Yugoslavia with Rad. He received his first piece of silverware in the First League of the Republika Srpska with Borac Banja Luka by winning the Republika Srpska Cup. His playing career concluded abroad in 2005 in Canada.[1]
After retiring from professional football he transitioned to the managerial side by managing his former club Dinara in 2010. After a season in Croatia, he returned to the Canadian circuit to manage Brantford Galaxy, where he led the team to a CSL Championship. In 2011, he was relieved from his coaching duties at Brantford and was involved with the expansion franchise SC Waterloo Region. His involvement with Waterloo included coaching responsibilities and financial shares in the club. He led Waterloo to their first and his second championship title in 2013.[2]
Club career
editEurope
editDžepina began his career with his hometown club Dinara.[3] In 1990, he signed with Rad of the First League of FR Yugoslavia and played with Borac Banja Luka where he won the Republika Srpska Cup.[4]
Canada
editIn 2005, Džepina played abroad in the Canadian Professional Soccer League with the Hamilton Thunder.[5][6] In his debut season in the Canadian circuit, he helped Hamilton secure the divisional title.[7] Their playoff journey concluded in the semifinal round after a defeat by the Oakville Blue Devils.[7]
Managerial career
editCroatia
editAfter he retired from professional football, he managed NK Dinara in 2010.[8]
Brantford Galaxy
editIn 2010, he returned to Canada to manage the expansion franchise Brantford Galaxy in the Canadian Soccer League.[9][10] In preparation for the 2010 season, Džepina utilized the growing procession of European players to the CSL by recruiting their services.[1] The acquisition of European imports played a pivotal role in Brantford's championship success in defeating Hamilton Croatia by a score of 3-0.[11] The victory marked a historic milestone in CSL history as Brantford became the first expansion side to win the title in their debut season. The following season he continued in his capacity as head coach, and further strengthened his roster with additional imports from Europe. Unfortunately after a mediocre start to the season, Džepina was dismissed from his post.[12]
Waterloo Region
editIn 2012, after the promotion of Kitchener Waterloo United FC to the CSL First Division the team was renamed to SC Waterloo Region with Džepina becoming a shareholder in the organization.[13] He assumed the managerial duties of the club, and continued in his policy of European recruitment. In his first season with Waterloo he failed to secure the final postseason berth by two points. Džepina brought further championship success to the Waterloo region in the 2013 season with the senior team defeating Kingston FC, while the reserve squad claimed the Second Division championship after defeating Toronto Croatia II.[14][15] The victories placed Džepina in a class of distinction by becoming the second head coach in CSL history in acquiring more than one CSL Championship. His next significant season was in the 2015 season, where Waterloo reached the championship finals, but were defeated in the finals to Toronto Croatia. While the reserve team clinched the Second Division title, but lost in the finals to Milton SC II.
Croatia
editDžepina returned to manage his former club Dinara in 2022 in the Croatian regional circuit.[16] In the early winter of 2024, he left Dinara.[17] After his departure from Dinara, he was named the manager for NK Janjevo Kistanje.[18]
Honours
editPlayer
editBorac Banja Luka
Hamilton Thunder
- Canadian Professional Soccer League Western Conference: 2005[7]
Manager
edit- Brantford Galaxy
- SC Waterloo Region
References
edit- ^ a b "Galaxy imports ready to go". The Hamilton Spectator. 2010-05-05. ISSN 1189-9417. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
- ^ Adamson, Stan. "IMPORT PLAYERS FOR A BRIGHTER CANADIAN SOCCER LEAGUE – Canadian Soccer League". canadiansoccerleague.ca. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
- ^ "Sport". golubickodknina.com. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ a b Basara, Slavko (12 November 2010). "Lazo Džepina prigrlio titulu" [Lazo Zepina embraced the title]. glassrpske.com (in Serbian). Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ "2005 Hamilton Thunder roster". cpsl.org. Archived from the original on 25 December 2005. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
- ^ Moko, Larry (4 June 2005). "They're ready to rumble; Hamilton Thunder boss says 'We're the team to beat' as new soccer season looms". Hamilton Spectator. pp. SP08.
- ^ a b c Borusas, Alge (11 October 2005). "Thunder's season ends with storms; Now we can get organized, says manager Ferguson". The Hamilton Spectator. pp. SP07.
- ^ Fabulić, Čedo (15 April 2010). "Devet pogodaka Marka Perića, sedam Ivana Šarlije - Zadarski list" [Nine goals by Marko Perić, seven by Ivan Šarlija]. www.zadarskilist.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ Smiley, Brian (6 May 2010). "Lazo is in charge". Brantford Expositor. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ^ Kodžoman, Žarko. "Vratili se Kanađani!" [The Canadians are back!] (PDF). Sinjsko novine.
- ^ O'Leary, Ed. "Galaxy title out of this world". Brantford Expositor. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- ^ Smiley, Brian. "Galaxy show coach red card". Brantford Expositor. Archived from the original on 2016-09-20. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- ^ "SC Waterloo Region joins Canadian Soccer League first division | Metro News". Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved 2016-09-06.
- ^ Bryson, Mark (November 1, 2013). "SC Waterloo seeks double championship: Local squad's 'B' team faces Toronto Croatia reserves for the CSL second division title". Waterloo Region Record. p. C10.
- ^ "Sports - In brief". Brantford Expositor. November 5, 2013. p. B2.
- ^ "Dinara i DOŠK u polufinalu Županijskog kupa" [Dinara and DOŠK in the semifinals of the County Cup]. dalmatinskinogomet.hr (in Croatian). 17 March 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Dinara promijenila trenera" [Dinara changed her coach]. dalmatinskinogomet.hr (in Croatian). 13 January 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Dinara i DOŠK u polufinalu Županijskog kupa" [Dinara and DOŠK in the semifinals of the County Cup]. dalmatinskinogomet.hr (in Croatian). 13 March 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.