Entire technical staff also not retained, could be by new coach.
CHICAGO, IL–On Wednesday, the Chicago Fire parted ways with head coach Veljko Paunovic after four seasons at the helm. Paunović went 41-58-37 over four seasons with Chicago with his best season being in 2017 where the team finished the third-best record in MLS at 16-11-7 before being bounced out of the playoffs by New York Red Bulls.
The rest of the technical staff also had their services discontinued, though they will have the opportunity to be retained by the next head coach or for other roles within the Club.
“Four years ago, Pauno and the staff accepted a challenge to help establish a football culture at the Fire,” said Chicago Fire President and General Manager Nelson Rodríguez. “Their efforts helped revitalize the Club with a competitive spirit and a dedication to always putting football first. Pauno and his staff were relentless in their devotion to the Club and for that we are immeasurably thankful.”
Rodriguez did say at his last media roundtable last month that Paunovic would return in 2020 after signing a two-year extension after the 2018 according to Paul Tenorio of the Athletic. It is unclear if Rodriguez had a change of heart or that new owner Joe Mansueto made the decision to sack him from above.
At Joe Mansueto’s introduction as the new owner in September, he did say that he hoped Rodriguez and Paunovic would return for 2020 and praised their work, but also said that the club will “take stock in the offseason and make sure we’re filling every slot with a world-caliber person.”
THOUGHTS: Evidently, someone took stock and deemed that Veljko Paunovic did not fit the bill. One wonders if Nelson Rodriguez will also fit the bill and/or if he will still have a role with the soccer operations of the club. The Chicago Fire will have a whole new look in 2020 with a new home in Soldier Field and now will need a new coach and a new core of players to build around with the departures of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Nemanja Nikolic, and now Dax McCarty who was officially traded to Nashville SC.
