Veljko Paunovic, the former Reading boss, has been given the boot as head coach of LaLiga new boys Real Oviedo. The Serbian is the first managerial casualty in Spain's top flight this season, with Oviedo sitting pretty in 17th place, having collected a measly six points from their eight league games. What a load of bollocks!
Oviedo's shock decision
The decision to sack Paunovic may have come as a surprise to the Serbian and his playing staff, according to some muppets on Spanish radio. "Nothing suggested that the club would announce the termination of the Serbian player's contract and that of his entire technical staff on Wednesday, minutes before the training session," they reported. Well, isn't that just taking the piss?
Paunovic, a former Oviedo player, took over as boss in March and helped guide the club to a third-placed finish in the second-tier before securing promotion for the first time in 24 years through the play-offs. But apparently, that wasn't enough to save his bacon.
A club statement on Thursday morning read: "Real Oviedo has decided to terminate Veljko Paunovic's contract as head coach of the first team. The Blues coach, with a contract until June 30, 2026, is no longer the coach of the team as of this moment. Similarly, the coaching staff accompanying him also ends their association with the Carbayon entity."
The statement went on to thank Paunovic and his coaching staff for their "professionalism, commitment, and dedication" during their time leading the team, and wished them "the greatest success in their future projects, both personal and professional". Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Paunovic's time at Reading
Paunovic spent 18 months in charge of Reading between 2020 and 2022, making an instant impact and winning the Manager of the Month award, but he was unable to steer the Royals to a play-off spot. It was there that he unearthed Michael Olise prior to his switch to Crystal Palace. But off-field difficulties plagued the following campaign, with Reading handed a six-point deduction for breaching profitability and sustainability rules across the previous three seasons. Paunovic left his role by mutual consent in February 2022 following a 3-2 defeat at Preston. Sounds like a right mess, doesn't it?
