Veljko Paunović Explained

Veljko Paunović
Full Name:Veljko Paunović[1]
Birth Date:21 August 1977
Birth Place:Strumica, SFR Yugoslavia
Height:1.84 m
Position:Attacking midfielder, striker
Currentclub:Tigres UANL (head coach)
Youthyears1:1983–1994
Youthclubs1:Partizan
Years1:1994–1995
Caps1:13
Goals1:1
Years2:1995–2002
Caps2:52
Goals2:9
Years3:1995–1996
Clubs3:Marbella (loan)
Caps3:20
Goals3:2
Years4:1996–1998
Caps4:22
Goals4:11
Years5:1998–1999
Clubs5:Mallorca (loan)
Caps5:24
Goals5:5
Years6:2001
Clubs6:Oviedo (loan)
Caps6:22
Goals6:4
Years7:2001–2002
Clubs7:Mallorca (loan)
Caps7:33
Goals7:3
Years8:2002–2003
Caps8:38
Goals8:18
Years9:2003–2005
Caps9:35
Goals9:6
Years10:2005
Caps10:6
Goals10:0
Years11:2005–2007
Caps11:44
Goals11:10
Years12:2007
Caps12:16
Goals12:1
Years13:2008
Caps13:7
Goals13:2
Years14:2008
Caps14:9
Goals14:1
Years15:2011
Caps15:17
Goals15:3
Totalcaps:358
Totalgoals:76
Nationalyears1:2002–2004
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:1
Manageryears1:2012–2014
Managerclubs1:Serbia U18
Manageryears2:2013–2014
Managerclubs2:Serbia U19
Manageryears3:2014–2015
Managerclubs3:Serbia U20
Manageryears4:2015–2019
Managerclubs4:Chicago Fire
Manageryears5:2020–2022
Managerclubs5:Reading
Manageryears6:2022–2023
Managerclubs6:Guadalajara
Manageryears7:2024–
Managerclubs7:Tigres UANL
Medaltemplates: (as manager)

Veljko Paunović (Serbian: Вељко Пауновић, pronounced as /ʋěːʎko paǔ:noʋitɕ/; born 21 August 1977) is a Serbian football manager and former player. He is the current head coach of Liga MX club Tigres UANL.

A versatile attacking unit, he could operate as an attacking midfielder or a striker, and spent most of his professional career in Spain where he represented eight clubs,[2] amassing La Liga totals of 212 matches and 38 goals over 11 seasons and having several spells with Atlético Madrid. Other than in his own country, he also played in Germany, Russia and the United States.

Paunović began working as a manager in 2012, starting with Serbia's youth teams and later being in charge of Chicago Fire and Reading.

Playing career

Club

Born in Strumica, Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Paunović made his professional debut at 17 with FK Partizan. The following summer he moved to Spain, where he would stay for most of the following decade playing for a host of clubs,[3] starting in the 1995–96 season with modest CA Marbella and reaching the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final with RCD Mallorca (with whom he scored five league goals in that campaign, to help the Balearic Islands team finish third),[4] [5] as well as having three separate stints with Atlético Madrid.[6]

Paunović had his best year in 2002–03 with CD Tenerife in Segunda División, netting 18 times in 38 appearances although the insular side could only rank eighth.[7] After a return to Atlético and a brief stay in Germany with Hannover 96, he joined Getafe CF for 2005–06's top flight,[8] enjoying his finest season in La Liga by scoring ten goals in 30 league matches to help the Madrid outskirts club to the ninth place. Due to the years spent in the country, he received a Spanish passport in 2006.[9]

Paunović was signed by Russian Premier League's FC Rubin Kazan in March 2007, after falling out of favour with Getafe coach Bernd Schuster. The following year, he agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal with UD Almería in January.[9] His debut was a sour one, playing 20 minutes off the bench against Racing de Santander in a 1–0 away defeat, while also receiving two yellow cards in one minute (with the consequent dismissal).[10] He would score on two occasions towards the season's end, in a 4–2 away loss to former team Getafe[11] and in the last matchday, a 3–1 victory at RCD Espanyol.[12]

On 12 July 2008, Paunović signed a two-year deal with his former club Partizan.[13] On 13 August, he scored in a 2–2 draw with Turkey's Fenerbahçe SK in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.[14] Before the end of the year, however, he announced his decision to retire from the game.[15]

On 29 June 2009, Paunović went on trial with the New York Red Bulls, but eventually turned down the one-year contract offer.[16] In June 2011, after nearly three years out of football, the 33-year-old signed a deal with another American club, Philadelphia Union, after a trial stint.[17] He scored his first goal with his new team late in the month, in a 3–2 win over Chivas USA.[18]

Paunović officially announced his retirement for the second time on 19 January 2012.[19]

International

Paunović made his debut for Serbia and Montenegro in a 2–1 friendly win with Mexico, on 13 February 2002. His only other cap came two years later against Northern Ireland, another exhibition match, and he scored in the 1–1 draw in Belfast.[20]

Coaching career

Serbia NT

Paunović earned a UEFA PRO coaching licence and a sporting director degree from the Royal Spanish Football Federation. For nine months, he was a UEFA Champions League analyst for RTVE in Spain.[21]

Paunović began working as a manager with the Serbia national team, being of charge of their under-18, under-19 and under-20 sides. While with the latter, he won the 2015 FIFA World Cup.[22]

Chicago Fire

On 24 November 2015, Paunović was appointed head coach of Chicago Fire FC in Major League Soccer.[23] He led the team to the playoffs in 2017, which happened for the first time in five years.[21] In the same year, he coached in the All-Star Game against Real Madrid.[24]

Paunović also reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Open Cup in 2016 and 2018.[25] [26] He and the Fire parted ways on 13 November 2019.[27]

Reading

Paunović replaced Mark Bowen as manager of Reading on 29 August 2020.[28] On his EFL Championship debut on 12 September, the team won 2–0 at Derby County;[29] he ended September as the division's Manager of the Month for winning all three games.[30] They missed out on a playoff place with two games remaining, after a 2–2 draw against Swansea City at the Madejski Stadium.[31]

In November 2021, during Paunović's second season, the team received a six-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules across the previous three seasons.[32] [33] The following January, the Royals were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round by National League North side Kidderminster Harriers.[34]

Following a 3–2 away victory over Preston North End on 19 February 2022, Reading announced that Paunović had left his role by mutual consent.[35]

Guadalajara

On 31 October 2022, Paunović became the manager of Liga MX club Guadalajara.[36] He made his debut the following 7 January in a 1–0 win at Monterrey.[37] On 15 December 2023, Paunović and Guadalajara parted ways by mutual agreement.[38] During his tenure in Guadalajara, Veljko was able to take his squad to the final in his first year as head coach. He unfortunately fell short to win although he was up 2–0 with 20 minutes left on the clock. The following season he lost several key matches 4–0 vs rival America, 4–0 vs Tigres, and was eliminated in the quarter final after losing 3–0 vs Pumas UNAM.

Tigres UANL

On 9 June 2024, Mexican club Tigres UANL appointed Paunović as their new head coach.[39]

Personal life

Paunović experienced hardships while training for football, such as walking for hours to practice and sometimes going without food. His father, Blagoje, was also a footballer. A defender who inspired him, he too played for Partizan and represented Yugoslavia at UEFA Euro 1968, later embarking in a managerial career.[40]

Paunović is married and has four children.[41] He is fluent in six languages: English, Spanish, Serbian, Macedonian, Russian and German.[21]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[42] [43] [44]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Partizan1994–95First League1315000181
Marbella (loan)1995–96Segunda División2020000202
Atlético Madrid B1996–97Segunda División73000073
1997–98Segunda División1580000158
Total221100002211
Atlético Madrid1996–97La Liga1612010191
1997–98La Liga1462030196
1999–00La Liga3074040387
2000–01Segunda División50000050
Total52940716310
Mallorca (loan)1998–99La Liga2450061306
Oviedo (loan)2000–01La Liga2240000224
Mallorca (loan)2001–02La Liga3330080413
Tenerife2002–03Segunda División381800003818
Atlético Madrid2003–04La Liga2562100277
2004–05La Liga1002032152
Total3564132429
Hannover2004–05Bundesliga60100070
Getafe2005–06La Liga301013003113
2006–07La Liga1403100171
Total441044004814
Rubin Kazan2007Russian Premier League1612100182
Almería2007–08La Liga72000072
Partizan2008–09Serbian SuperLiga911081182
Philadelphia Union2011Major League Soccer1730000173
Career total3587621632541187

International goals

Scores and results list Serbia and Montenegro's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Paunović goal.

Managerial statistics

[45] [46]

Coaching record by team and tenure
TeamFromToRecord
Serbia U20/U19/U181 October 201230 June 2015
Chicago Fire24 November 201513 November 2019
Reading29 August 202019 February 2022
Guadalajara31 October 202215 December 2023
Tigres UANL9 June 2024present
Total

Honours

Manager

Serbia

2015[22]

Individual

September 2020[30]

Notes and References

  1. News: Veljko PAUNOVIC. El Mundo. es. 9 July 2009.
  2. Web site: Inside the MLS: Veljko Paunovic. Red Nation Online. Vujcic. Djuradj. 29 March 2012. 30 March 2012.
  3. Web site: Paunovic poised for Getafe switch. UEFA. 10 May 2005. 29 November 2012.
  4. News: El Mallorca pierde con orgullo. Mallorca lose proudly. El País. Segurola. Santiago. es. 20 May 1999. 28 January 2016.
  5. Web site: Paunovic: "Cumplí varios sueños en el Mallorca, y estaré agradecido eternamente". Paunovic: "I fulfilled several dreams with Mallorca, and I'll thank them forever". RCDM. Mazarrasa. Gonzalo. es. 6 August 2009. 29 November 2012.
  6. Web site: Atlético and Paunovic part company. UEFA. 24 January 2005. 29 November 2012.
  7. News: Jesús Perera, Pichichi 2003 en Segunda. Jesús Perera, 2003 Pichichi in Segunda. Marca. es. 29 June 2003. 16 March 2021.
  8. Web site: El Getafe de Schuster es reforça amb el davanter serbi Veljko Paunovic. Schuster's Getafe bolster with Serbian forward Veljko Paunovic. Televisió de Catalunya. ca. 18 July 2005. 23 August 2018.
  9. News: Paunovic ficha por el Almería. Paunovic signs for Almería. El Día. es. 19 January 2008. 23 August 2018.
  10. News: Paunovic: "Es muy indignante que esto suceda en el fútbol español". Paunovic: "It's outrageous this can happen in Spanish football". Ideal. Gutiérrez. José Gabriel. es. 25 February 2008. 29 November 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120229141352/http://www.ideal.es/almeria/20080225/deportes/ud-almeria/paunovic-indignante-esto-suceda-20080225.html?redirect=1. 29 February 2012.
  11. Web site: Getafe 4–2 Almeria. https://web.archive.org/web/20121026114818/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/226503?cc=5739. dead. 26 October 2012. ESPN Soccernet. 7 May 2008. 29 November 2012.
  12. Web site: Espanyol 1–3 Almeria. https://web.archive.org/web/20121026114839/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/241326?cc=5739. dead. 26 October 2012. ESPN Soccernet. 18 May 2008. 29 November 2012.
  13. News: Paunovic ficha por el Partizán. Paunovic signs for Partizan. Diario de Almería. Mirón. Guillermo. es. 14 July 2008. 14 April 2022.
  14. Web site: Fenerbahçe fightback foils Partizan. UEFA. 13 August 2008. 14 April 2022.
  15. Web site: Entrevista Paunovic: "Quiero la mentalidad ganadora de Mourinho, y la lucidez de Guardiola". Paunovic interview: "I want Mourinho's winner mindset, and Guardiola's lucidity". Goal. Loaiza. Alfonso. es. 15 December 2010. 14 April 2022.
  16. Web site: Red Bulls eyeing Serbian forward Veljko Paunovic. New York Daily News. Lewis. Michael. 22 July 2009. 29 November 2012.
  17. Web site: Union sign Serbian forward Veljko Paunović. Philadelphia Union. 13 June 2011. 29 November 2012.
  18. Web site: Philadelphia Union 3–2 Chivas USA: Philly extend home unbeaten run with spirited comeback. Goal. 26 June 2011. 29 November 2012.
  19. Web site: Union's Paunović announces decision to retire. Philadelphia Union. 18 January 2012. 29 November 2012.
  20. Web site: NI 1–1 Serbia & Montenegro. BBC Sport. 28 April 2004. 29 November 2012.
  21. Web site: Chicago Fire Soccer Club signs head coach Veljko Paunović to multi-year contract extension. Chicago Fire. 3 January 2019. 7 May 2019.
  22. Web site: Veljko Paunovic: The man behind Serbia's under-20 World Cup glory. ESPN. Ibrulj. Sasa. 20 June 2015. 23 August 2018.
  23. Web site: Chicago Fire Soccer Club hires Veljko Paunovic as head coach. Chicago Fire. 24 November 2015. 25 November 2012.
  24. Web site: Veljko Paunovic already making most of opportunity in MLS. ESPN. Corrigan. Dermot. 1 August 2017. 19 January 2021.
  25. Web site: NE Revs top Chicago Fire, book place in 2016 US Open Cup final. NBC Sports. Edwards. Andy. 9 August 2016. 19 January 2021.
  26. Web site: Philadelphia Union 3, Chicago Fire 0 2018 US Open Cup Match Recap. Major League Soccer. Rodriguez. Alicia. 8 August 2018. 19 January 2021.
  27. Web site: Chicago Fire part ways with head coach Veljko Paunovic. Chicago Fire. 13 November 2019. 13 November 2019.
  28. Web site: Veljko Paunovic: Reading appoint Serbian as manager, replacing Mark Bowen. BBC Sport. 29 August 2020. 29 August 2020.
  29. News: Derby County 0–2 Reading: Goals from Joao and Ejaria give Paunović's Royals the perfect start. Wokingham Today. Preston. Andy. 12 September 2020. 19 January 2021.
  30. News: Reading FC boss nomimated for Manager of the Month award. The Reading Chronicle. Joy. Matt. 8 October 2020. 26 October 2021.
  31. Web site: Reading 2–2 Swansea City. BBC Sport. Vincent. Gareth. 25 April 2021. 27 May 2021.
  32. News: Reading agree six-point deduction with EFL for breaching financial rules. The Guardian. Fisher. Ben. 17 November 2021. 2 February 2022.
  33. Web site: Veljko Paunovic sends defiant message to Reading FC fans after confirmation of points deduction. Get Reading. Warlow. Robert. 19 November 2021. 1 February 2022.
  34. News: "I will turn this around." Reading FC manager insists he is right man for the job. The Reading Chronicle. Nurick. Benjy. 8 January 2022. 1 February 2022.
  35. Web site: Club statement Royals part company with Veljko Paunovic by mutual consent. Reading F.C.. 19 February 2022. 19 February 2022.
  36. Web site: Veljko Paunovic: Chivas' new head coach.. C.D. Guadalajara. 31 October 2022. 31 October 2022.
  37. News: Paunovic en Chivas comenzó con el pie derecho ante Monterrey. Paunović starts off on the right foot at Chivas against Monterrey. El Diario de Coahuila. es. 7 January 2023. 24 April 2023.
  38. Web site: Press release. C.D. Guadalajara. 15 December 2023.
  39. Web site: Tigres hace oficial la llegada de Veljko Paunović como DT. ESPN México. 9 June 2024.
  40. Web site: Son of Serbia. The Coaches' Voice. 24 January 2018. 7 May 2019.
  41. Web site: Paunovićev poker (FOTO). Paunović poker (PHOTO). Mozzart Sport. sr. 30 July 2013. 18 June 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082135/http://www.mozzartsport.com/vesti/paunovicev-poker-foto/57938. 4 March 2016. dmy-all.
  42. Web site: Veljko Paunovic. Worldfootball. 25 June 2014.
  43. Web site: Veljko Paunovic. Footballdatabase. 21 March 2015.
  44. Web site: Veljko Paunović. Partizanopedia. sr. 9 November 2020.
  45. Web site: Veljko Paunovic Managers. Soccerbase. 3 October 2018.
  46. Web site: V. Paunovic. Soccerway. 15 November 2019.