Fire hire Paunovic as coach to replace Yallop

Paunovic played for 11 teams in Serbia, Spain, Germany, Russia and the United States over a 16-year career that ended with the Philadelphia Union in the MLS in 2011. (Srdjan Ilic/AP)

CHICAGO — The Chicago Fire have hired Serbian Veljko Paunovic as coach to replace the fired Frank Yallop.

The 38-year-old Paunovic began coaching Serbia’s under-20 team in August 2012 and led it to the FIFA U-20 World Cup championship this year with a win over Brazil in the final.

He played for 11 teams in Serbia, Spain, Germany, Russia and the United States over a 16-year career that ended with the Philadelphia Union in the MLS in 2011. Paunovic had 76 goals in 358 appearances.

The Fire announced the move on Tuesday. Yallop was fired in September after leading Chicago to a 13-26-24 record in nearly two seasons.

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