Football Association of Serbia (FFS): Zoran Lakovic was appointed the youngest National Association General Secretary in Europe in 2007 where he continued to serve until 2015. Under his leadership, this resourceful football association was able to grow infrastructure substantially to promote and develop football at all levels including grassroots, the women’s game, elite youth and club and national team performance. The FSS remains the beating heart of Serbian football through its impressive national team training centre located in Stara Pazova. 

As FFS General Secretary, UEFA’s Executive Committee appointed him first as a member of the UEFA HatTrick Committee from 2007-2009 and the National Team Competitions Committee from 2009 to 2015. He also served as a UEFA internal auditor. 

UEFA: in September 2015 he joined as Head of International Relations and was appointed Director of the National Associations Division soon after in January 2017. This division is the nerve centre for football growth and development including “HatTrick” which is the largest sports solidarity programme in the world. HatTrick combined with annual solidarity payments to national associations destined for clubs, totals over 1 billion Euros in funding per cycle and is considered a huge driving force behind European football development. 

Today, 55 football associations from across Europe are UEFA members. Large or small, each country can benefit from development funding, expert assistance and education through the National Associations Division which includes the dynamic UEFA Academy and GROW programme. In turn, each association plays a vital role providing input and feedback within UEFA's decision-making process, through representation on UEFA's committees and expert panels.

The National Associations Division also houses the Safety, Security and Services Unit which works closely with our stakeholders in Europe, including national associations, clubs and police, to keep football safe and ensure a warm and welcoming environment for fans. 

Other roles in sport: he served as a board member of the Serbian Olympic Committee and is currently the Co-Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Ballon D’Or. 

Personal: Zoran Lakovic was born in Pozarevac on 9 February 1978. He is married with 3 children. 

Education: graduation from the Fourth Gymnasium in Belgrade and, subsequently, from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Belgrade. 

Languages: speaks fluent English and Russian and intermediate knowledge in French.