Photo: Earl Gardner
The Union announced on Monday the signing of 33-year-old Serbian striker Veljko Paunovic.
Paunovic will be eligible to play on Saturday when the Union travel to Vancouver. He played in the Union reserve’s 2–1 loss to DC United on May 16.
Paunovic announced his retirement from professional football in December of 2008—six months after signing a two-year contract with FK Partizan, the team for which he made his professional debut at the age of 17. The majority of his career was spent in Spain and included stints with Atletico Madrid although the bulk of the years between 1998 and 2002 he was away on loan from that club to Mallorca and Oviedo. His most productive season was 2002-2003 with Spanish second division side CD Tenerife, scoring 18 goals in the team’s eight place finish.
In 2009, Paunovic trialled with New York Red Bulls but turned down an offered one year contract.
Paunovic has 73 goals in 341 club appearances. He twice appeared for Sebia, scoring one goal. While typically deployed as a forward, Paunovic can also play attacking mid.
Paunovic will turn 34 on August 21.
As per league and club policy, the terms of Paunovic’s contract have not been released.
OH GREAT
Don’t get it. I’ll give him a shot. But neither the team nor the league can be taken seriously if they keep making signings like this. Especially of already retired players.
I don’t wanna write off the guy without seeing him play, but on paper this just looks silly.
I hear you – I hope the guy is a roaring success, just like I hope anyone who signs with the Union is. Does the available info make it seem like he will be? Well now…