New selector soccer representation Of Serbia will be Veljko Paunović, announced the Football Association.
Paunović will succeed him on the bench of the national team Dragan Stojković Pixi, who terminated his contract with the Football Association by mutual consent after losing to Albania in the World Cup qualifiers.
Paunović will make his debut with his coaching staff on November 13, when the Eagles will play against England at Wembley, writes RTS.
Three days later, the Serbian national team will meet Latvia in the last match of the World Cup qualifiers Leskovac.
Nothing depends only on Serbia
Serbia in qualifying group K no longer depends only on its performance because after six played games it has eight points less than the first-placed England and a point less than Albania, which after the triumph in Leskovac is closer to qualifying for the playoffs.
The General Secretary of the Football Association of Serbia, Branko Radujko, said that Paunović accepted the invitation with maximum commitment and desire to help the national team at a time when the chances of qualifying for the World Cup still exist.
"From the first day, Paunović showed that the interest of the national football team comes before everything. His priority was not the contract or the financial conditions, but to immediately make himself available to the Football Association of Serbia and take over the team at such an important moment. He emphasized that he wants to focus all his energy on the upcoming matches against England and Latvia, determined to fight as long as there is even the slightest chance of success. We believe that with his arrival he will be able to motivate the players and raise the atmosphere in the team, so that we can try to let's turn things in our favor. We don't give up as long as there is even the last millisecond of chance," stressed Radujko.
He pointed out that the results of the last two World Cup qualifiers will not affect Paunović's status and that discussions about his long-term contract will continue after these matches are over.
Paunović's career
Paunović was without engagement after parting ways with Spanish Oviedo.
Under the leadership of Paunović, Oviedo won promotion to Primera last season, but started the new season with two wins and six losses in the elite rank.
Paunović took over the Spanish team in March of this year, and before that he coached Tigres, Guadalajara, Reading, Chicago, as well as the youth selections of Serbia under the age of 18, 19 and 20.
At the 2015 Under-20 World Championship, Paunović led the Serbian national team to the title of world champion.
During his playing career, the new coach of Serbia played for Partizan, Marbella, Atletico Madrid, Mallorca, Oviedo, Tenerife, Hanover, Getafe, Rubin Kazan, Almeria and Philadelphia Union.
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