Lazaros Rota

Greek footballer

Lazaros Rota
Personal information
Rota playing for Greece in 2022
Full name	Lazaros Rota
Date of birth	(1997-08-23) 23 August 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth	Katerini, Greece
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Right-back
Team information
Current team	AEK Athens
Number	12
Youth career
0000–2017	Iraklis
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	Slavoj Trebišov	12	(1)
2018–2020	Zemplín Michalovce	40	(2)
2020–2021	Fortuna Sittard	31	(0)
2021–	AEK Athens	74	(4)
International career^‡
2020–	Greece	14	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:13, 15 April 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024 (UTC).

Lazaros Rota (Greek: Λάζαρος Ρότα; Albanian: Lazar Rota; born 23 August 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Super League club AEK Athens and the Greece national team.^[1]

Club career

Lazaros Rota started his career with the 2nd team of Iraklis Reserves. He continued in FK Slavoj Trebišov, a 2. Liga (Slovakia) club until he signed a professional contract with Zemplín Michalovce.

Zemplín Michalovce

Rota made his professional Fortuna Liga debut for Zemplín Michalovce against DAC Dunajská Streda on 29 July 2018. Rota had played the entirety of 1–4 away defeat.^[2]

Fortuna Sittard

Rota's move to Fortuna Sittard was announced on 31 January 2020. He signed a 3.5 year contract with the Dutch club.^[3] On August 31, the Dutch club announced that the two sides had reached a mutual consensus to terminate the contract of the international defender.^[4]

AEK Athens

On 2 September 2021, AEK Athens announced the acquisition of the 24-year-old right back, for the next three years for an undisclosed fee.^[5] On April 10, he scored an equaliser, which was later voted the best goal of matchday 28, against Aris.^[6] The following week he scored in Ioannina against the local team. His goal was again voted the best of the specific matchday.^[7]

International career

An Albanian born and raised in Greece, he was eligible to represent both Albania and Greece, In August 2020, Rota had called up to the Greece national football team for the UEFA Nations League against Slovenia and Kosovo. He made his debut on 11 October 2020 in a Nations League game against Moldova.^[8]

Career statistics

Club

As of 10 March 2023

Club	Season	League			National cup^[a]		Europe		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Slavoj Trebišov	2017–18	2. Liga	12	1	0	0	—		12	1
Zemplín Michalovce	2018–19	Slovak First Football League	26	1	7	1	—		33	2
	2019–20	Slovak First Football League	14	1	1	0	—		15	1
	Total		40	2	8	1	—		48	3
Fortuna Sittard	2019–20	Eredivisie	5	0	—		—		5	0
	2020–21		24	0	2	0	—		26	0
	2021–22		2	0	—		—		2	0
	Total		31	0	2	0	—		33	0
AEK Athens	2021–22	Super League Greece	23	2	4	0	—		27	2
	2022–23		31	0	5	0	—		36	0
	2023–24		15	2	1	0	5^[b]	0	21	2
	Total		69	4	10	0	5	0	84	4
Career total			153	7	20	1	5	0	178	8

^ Includes Slovak Cup, KNVB Cup, Greek Football Cup
^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

AEK Athens

References

^ Αυτός είναι ο Λάζαρος Ρότα που θέλει στην Εθνική ο Φαν'τ Σχιπ! 26.08.2020, www.gazzetta.gr
^ FC DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda - MFK Zemplín Michalovce 4:1 29.07.2018, futbalnet.sk
^ "Michalovce prišli o oporu, Rota prestúpil do Holandska | ProFutbal.sk". profutbal.sk (in Slovak). Retrieved 2020-02-01.
^ "Η Φορτούνα Σιτάρντ άφησε ελεύθερο τον Λάζαρο Ρότα". www.sport24.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 1 September 2021.
^ "ΑΕΚ: Επίσημα στην Ένωση ο Λάζαρος Ρότα". www.sport24.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2 September 2021.
^ "Στον Λάζαρο Ρότα το Best Goal | video | athlitiko". Athlitiko.gr | Το αθλητικό site της Κρήτης. 2022-05-12. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ newsroom, sport-fm. "Στον Ρότα το βραβείο για το καλύτερο γκολ της 5ης αγωνιστικής των Playoffs και 4ης των Playouts". sport-fm.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2022-08-24.
^ "Greece v Moldova game report". ESPN. 11 October 2020.