LIGA MX
Veljko Paunovic to stay on as Chivas head coach
According to sources close to the Guadalajara based club, the Serbian coach will continue to lead Chivas into the 2024 Liga MX Clausura campaign.
After much speculation in recent days that coach Veljko Paunovic would leave his position, due to a clause that exists in his contract, sources consulted within the institution have confirmed that the Serbian will oversee Chivas’ Clausura 2024 campaign which gets underway in January of next year.
After the painful elimination against Pumas in the quarterfinals of Apertura 2023, many frustrated fans immediately called for the coach’s head but after days of reflection, the club and sports director, Fernando Hierro are reported to have full faith in the work of the European coach.
Speculation arouse that Veljko Paunovic could leave the team despite having a signed three-year contract due to a subclause that permitted either party to sever ties upon the conclusion of two short tournaments which the Serbian boss has now overseen.
The Guadalajara board are satisfied with work of the 46-year-old as he secured a Clausura 2023 final berth in his first season and this Apertura campaign qualified for the Liguilla without going through a playoff.
With the backing of the board, all that remained from Paunovic was his declaration of intent to stay in Guadalajara with much of the trouble surrounding the club in recent months centred on areas of ill discipline from key players which overshadowed matters at the club.
The Sacred Flock will compete in the Liga MX Clausura and Apertura 2024 but will also participate in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup by virtue of ending the 2023 Liga MX as runners-up.