Veljko Paunović

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Veljko Paunović
Personal information
Full name Veljko Paunović
Date of birth (1977-08-21) 21 August 1977 (age 46)
Place of birth Strumica, SFR Yugoslavia
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Midfielder / Striker
Team information
Current team
 Chicago Fire (head coach)
Youth career
1983–1994 Partizan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Partizan 13 (1)
1995–1996 Marbella 20 (2)
1996–1998 Atlético Madrid B 22 (11)
1996–2002 Atlético Madrid 52 (9)
1998–1999 → Mallorca (loan) 24 (5)
2001 → Oviedo (loan) 22 (4)
2001–2002 → Mallorca (loan) 33 (3)
2002–2003 Tenerife 38 (18)
2003–2005 Atlético Madrid 35 (6)
2005 Hannover 6 (0)
2005–2007 Getafe 44 (10)
2007 Rubin Kazan 16 (1)
2008 Almería 7 (2)
2008 Partizan 9 (1)
2011 Philadelphia Union 17 (3)
Total 358 (76)
International career
2002–2004 Serbia and Montenegro 2 (1)
Managerial career
2012–2014 Serbia U18
2013–2014 Serbia U19
2014–2015 Serbia U20
2015– Chicago Fire
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Veljko Paunović (Serbian Cyrillic: Вeљкo Пауновић; born 21 August 1977) is a retired Serbian footballer, and the current head coach of American club Chicago Fire Soccer Club.

A versatile offensive unit, he could operate as an attacking midfielder or a striker, and spent most of his professional career in Spain where he represented almost ten clubs,[1] amassing La Liga totals of 212 games and 38 goals over the course of 11 seasons and having several spells with Atlético Madrid.

Other than in his own country, Paunović also played professionally in Germany, Russia and the United States.

Club career

Born in Strumica, Macedonia, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Paunović made his professional debut at only 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,[2] 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[3]),[4] as well as having three separate stints with Atlético Madrid.[5]

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. After a return to Atlético and a brief stay in Germany with Hannover 96, he joined Getafe CF for 2005–06's top flight, 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.

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: his debut was a sour one, playing twenty 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).[6] He would score on two occasions towards the season's end, in a 2–4 away defeat against former team Getafe[7] and in the last matchday, a 3–1 success at RCD Espanyol.[8]

On 12 July 2008, it was announced that Paunović signed a two-year deal with his former club Partizan. On 13 August he scored in a 2–2 draw with Turkey's Fenerbahçe SK, in a UEFA Champions League qualifying round.[9] On 24 December however, he announced his decision to retire from the game.

On 29 June 2009, Paunović went on trial with the New York Red Bulls, but eventually turned down the one-year contract offer.[10] In June 2011, after nearly three years out of football, the 33-year-old signed a deal with another North American club, Philadelphia Union, after a trial stint.[11] He scored his first goal with his new team late in the month, in a 3–2 win against Chivas USA.[12]

On 19 January 2012, Paunović officially announced his retirement for the second time.[13] On 24 November 2015, after several years managing Serbia's youth sides, he was appointed head coach of Chicago Fire Soccer Club.[14]

International career

Paunović made his debut for Serbia and Montenegro in a 2–1 friendly win with Mexico, on 13 February 2002. His last cap came two years later against Northern Ireland, on another friendly, and he scored in the 1–1 draw in Belfast.[15]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 28 April 2004 Windsor Park, Belfast  Northern Ireland 0–1 1–1 Friendly

Personal life

Paunović's father, Blagoje, was also a footballer. A defender, he too played for Partizan and represented Yugoslavia at UEFA Euro 1968, later embarking in a managerial career.

Paunović is married and has four children. He is fluent in Serbian, Spanish, Macedonian and English.[16]

Paunović is a member of the Gravediggers Canada 1987 fan club.[17]

Club statistics

[18][19]

Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Serbia League Serbian Cup Europe Total
1994–95 Partizan Serbian SuperLiga 13 1 0 0 0 0 13 1
Spain League Copa del Rey Europe Total
1995–96 Marbella Segunda División 20 2 0 0 0 0 20 2
1996–97 Atlético Madrid B 7 3 0 0 0 0 7 3
1996–97 Atlético Madrid La Liga 16 1 2 0 1 0 19 1
1997–98 Atlético Madrid B Segunda División 15 8 0 0 0 0 15 8
1997–98 Atlético Madrid La Liga 14 6 2 0 3 0 19 6
1998–99 Mallorca 24 5 0 0 6 1 30 6
1999-00 Atlético Madrid 17 2 0 0 3 1 20 3
2000–01 Atlético Madrid Segunda División 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
2000–01 Oviedo La Liga 22 4 0 0 0 0 22 4
2001–02 Mallorca 33 3 0 0 8 0 41 3
2002–03 Tenerife Segunda División 38 18 0 0 0 0 38 18
2003–04 Atlético Madrid La Liga 25 6 2 1 0 0 27 7
2004–05 Atlético Madrid 10 0 2 0 3 2 15 2
Germany League DFB-Pokal Europe Total
2004–05 Hannover Bundesliga 6 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
Spain League Copa del Rey Europe Total
2005–06 Getafe La Liga 30 10 1 3 0 0 31 13
2006–07 14 0 3 1 0 0 17 1
Russia League Russian Cup Europe Total
2007 Rubin Kazan Russian Premier League 16 1 2 1 0 0 18 2
Spain League Copa del Rey Europe Total
2007–08 Almería La Liga 7 2 0 0 0 0 7 2
Serbia League Serbian Cup Europe Total
2008–09 Partizan Serbian SuperLiga 9 1 0 0 8 1 17 2
USA League Open Cup North America Total
2011 Philadelphia Union Major League Soccer 17 3 0 0 0 0 17 3
Total Spain 297 70 12 5 24 4 333 79
Germany 6 0 1 0 0 0 7 0
Russia 16 1 2 1 0 0 18 2
Serbia 22 2 0 0 8 1 30 3
USA 17 3 0 0 0 0 17 3
Career total 358 76 15 6 32 5 405 87

Honours

Manager

Serbia

References

  1. ^ Vujcic, Djuradj (29 March 2012). "Inside the MLS: Veljko Paunovic". Red Nation Online. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Paunovic poised for Getafe switch". UEFA.com. 10 May 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  3. ^ "Paunovic: "Cumplí varios sueños en el Mallorca, y estaré agradecido eternamente"" (in Spanish). RCDM. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "El Mallorca pierde con orgullo" (in Spanish). El País. 20 May 1999. Retrieved 28 January 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Atlético and Paunovic part company". UEFA.com. 24 January 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  6. ^ "Paunovic: "Es muy indignante que esto suceda en el fútbol español"" (in Spanish). Ideal. 25 February 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Getafe 4–2 Almeria". ESPN Soccernet. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  8. ^ "Espanyol 1–3 Almeria". ESPN Soccernet. 18 May 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  9. ^ "Fenerbahçe fightback foils Partizan". UEFA.com. 13 August 2008. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  10. ^ Lewis, Michael (22 July 2009). "Red Bulls eyeing Serbian forward Veljko Paunovic". NY Daily News. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  11. ^ "Union sign Serbian forward Veljko Paunović". Philadelphia Union. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  12. ^ "Philadelphia Union 3–2 Chivas USA: Philly extend home unbeaten run with spirited comeback". Goal.com. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  13. ^ "Union's Paunović announces decision to retire". Philadelphia Union. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  14. ^ "Chicago Fire Soccer Club hires Veljko Paunovic as head coach". Chicago Fire. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  15. ^ "NI 1–1 Serbia & Montenegro". BBC Sport. 28 April 2004. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
  16. ^ "Paunovićev poker" (in Serbian). Mozzart Sport. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "Djuradj Vujcic – Biography". Urban Book Circle. 16 May 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  18. ^ "Veljko Paunovic". Worldfootball. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  19. ^ "Veljko Paunovic". Footballdatabase. Retrieved 21 March 2015.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Veljko_Paunović&oldid=744308505"