The arrival of a fresh face at Chivas delivered an immediate surge, as the new pastor of the squad delivered 34 points in his opening tournament and challenged long-held stereotypes.
Following the confirmation of Fernando Hierro stepping in as sports director, internal changes began to unfold. The first notable move was the appointment of Veljko Paunovic as the team’s new head coach.
The Serbian-born, naturalized Spanish coach was seen as a bold bet by the Guadalajara leadership. With experience across various leagues, he was believed to inject new ideas into both the rojiblanco club and Mexican football as a whole.
Paunovic’s arrival sparked questions about his lack of coaching experience in Mexico, yet he quickly dispelled doubts by guiding the team to third place in the league standings with 34 points.
His tenure also marked a notable milestone that drew attention from fans and pundits alike, as Paunovic stood alongside prominent clubs such as Rayados de Monterrey, América and Toluca in terms of performance and ambition.
In this profile, GOAL presents an overview of the Chivas strategist:
WHO IS VELJKO PAUNOVIC?
Veljko Paunovic, now 45, began his professional playing career in 1994 with Partizan Belgrade and concluded it in 2011 with the Philadelphia Union. During his playing days, he operated primarily as a striker and built a notable career in Spanish football with clubs including Mallorca, Atlético de Madrid, Oviedo, Tenerife, Getafe and Almería. While in Spain he captured the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
After hanging up his boots, his coaching path started with youth teams in Serbia. He later had the opportunity to lead Serbia’s U20 national team, triumphing at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup after defeating Brazil in the final.
That same year, he moved to Major League Soccer with Chicago Fire, a club he led until 2019. In 2017 he was chosen to helm the league’s star squad in a match against Real Madrid.
The most recent notable stop in his coaching career came with Reading in the English second division, where he guided the team from 2020 to 2022. During that period, his teams faced challenges and finished with an overall performance that did not meet expectations.
HOW HAS CHIVAS BEEN?
Since taking charge, Veljko Paunovic helped the team embark on a preseason tour in Spain, playing friendlies against Getafe and Athletic Club. A victory over Getafe came with a 1–0 scoreline, while the outing against Athletic Club ended in a 0–2 defeat.
Leading into the Clausura 2023, Chivas had earned strong momentum from the 2022 Sky Cup, securing four consecutive wins against Tigres, Santos, Atlas and Mazatlán to reach the final, where they fell to Cruz Azul.
By the close of the regular phase, Paunovic’s numbers stood out: third place and 34 points, built on 10 wins, four draws and three losses. The team managed to defeat Víctor Manuel Vucetich’s Rayados in league play, underscoring the strategic impact of the new coach.
Which team will win the Clausura 2023 Liga MX?
- Monterrey
- America
- Chivas
- Toluca
- tigers
- Other
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Which team will win the Clausura 2023 Liga MX?
- 19%Monterrey
- 3.4%America
- 26%Chivas
- 3%Toluca
- 10%tigers
- 8%Other
9839 to vote