Stan plans link-up with Tel
The Australian winger is a known admirer of Venables and his comments could pave the way for him to tie up a move to Elland Road.
"Players warm to him and I personally can't praise him highly enough."
Lazaridis, 30, played under the much travelled Venables during his time in charge of the Australian national team and is keen to link-up once again with the man he considers the best in the business.
He said: "Terry's always got the best out of me playing for my country and I have a lot of admiration for him.
"He's the type of coach you'd die for, certainly the best I've ever been associated with.
"Players warm to him and I personally can't praise him highly enough."
The former West Ham United midfielder has just four months left on his contract at St. Andrews and does not like his future prospects with the Midlands outfit as talk of a new deal have not been forth-coming.
"If I'm not a part of [coach] Steve Bruce's plans and if a club like Leeds comes in, you can't dismiss it."
Lazaridis could join fellow countrymen Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Paul Okon, Jacob Burns and Danny Milosevic on Leeds` books, but the move could be scuppered by Birmingham's insistence of a £1 million fee.
"It's an exciting thought when you consider the Aussie connection that already exists at the club. It would be great to be a part of that.
Leeds would only be prepared to offer around half that amount for the player who has figured in 19 games for The Blues this season and Lazaridis is less than impressed with the size of the fee.
He added: "You'd have to think I'd be worth only about a third of what the club want. They have to make up their minds."
"But I've got no animosity towards Steve Bruce. He's given me plenty of game time this season and had he not played me there wouldn't have been any interest from the likes of Leeds."
