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Veljko Paunovic Honored by Serbian Football Association

An eventful year in the career of Chicago Fire head coach Veljko Paunovic added another memorable moment Monday when the Football Association of Serbia honored Paunovic as his country’s 2015 Coach of the Year.

Paunovic, who in June coached the Serbian U-20 National Team to that age group’s FIFA World Cup championship, received his award Monday at a ceremony in Belgrade, Serbia.

Three years into his tenure leading the Serbian U-20 side, Paunovic mentored a squad at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup that was lauded for its resiliency and spirit, finishing atop Group D despite an opening-game defeat.