Veljko Paunovic, Retired For Two Years, On Trial With The Philadelphia Union

The Philadelphia Union have brought in former Serbian international striker Veljko Paunovic on trial. In a rare show of transparency, the Union openly announced the name of the 33-year-old at today’s Reserve League match against DC United, the first time during the 2011 season that head coach Piotr Nowak has let one of his possible discovery claims be known to the public.

In addition to playing as a striker, Paunovic has spent time in attacking midfielder roles throughout his career.

Paunovic last played in 2008 for UD Almeria of the Spanish La Liga and Serbian SuperLiga club Partizan, where he began his professional career in 1994. He officially retired from soccer after the 2008 season, in which Paunovic managed three goals in 16 games. For his career Paunovic has scored 73 goals in 338 games for 14 different teams, most notably Atletico Madrid. His international career with Serbia spanned only two games, in which Paunovic scored a goal. 

The New York Red Bulls offered Paunovic an one year contract after he went on trial with the team back in 2009, but Paunovic decided to not accept the Red Bulls offer.