Paunovic replaces Stojkovic as Serbia coach

Serbia on Thursday appointed former Real Oviedo boss Veljko Paunovic as their new national team coach, following the resignation of Dragan Stojkovic earlier this month.

Paunovic, who led Serbia’s youth team to the Under-20 World Cup title in 2015, will be tasked with turning around the senior side’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

“His priority was neither the contract nor the financial terms, but to make himself immediately available and take over the team at such an important moment,” Serbian football federation general secretary Branko Radujko said.

Serbia are third in Group K, one point behind second-placed Albania in the race for a play-off place.

They face already-qualified England at Wembley on November 13 and host Latvia three days later in their final two qualifiers for next year’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“The result of these two matches will in no way affect Paunovic’s future status,” Radujko added.

Stojkovic resigned on October 12 after Serbia lost 1–0 to Albania at home.

“This defeat should not have happened, and I accept responsibility,” Stojkovic said after the match.

They bounced back in their next game with a 3-1 win at Andorra under interim boss Zoran Mirkovic.

Paunovic, whose former clubs include Guadalajara, Tigres, Reading and Chicago Fire, was sacked by Oviedo earlier this month with the club 17th in the La Liga table.

Serbia have qualified for three of four World Cups as an independent nation, but have never got past the group phase.