Paunović reveals why he accepted Serbia's call right now VIDEO

In the last two World Cup qualifying matches, our “A” national team will be led by the man who, ten years ago, took the youth team to the top of the world in New Zealand.

Now he is back—to try, with faith, hard work, and energy, to awaken the very best in Serbian football.

“Since the end of 2015, I haven’t been at the Sports Center in Stara Pazova for almost ten years. I feel as comfortable as I did back then. So many great memories… I’m a bit excited. I’m glad to see people at the Sports Center whom I worked with back then, who are still with the Football Association, and that we have the opportunity to be part of a shared mission and a new task again,” those were Veljko Paunović’s first words in an interview for the official FSS website.

How important was it for you, in these circumstances, to show that patriotism takes precedence over all other challenges in your career?

“Opportunities don’t choose the moment, but this one arose at a time when the position of head coach became vacant. I had just finished a project, and the opportunity opened up. There wasn’t much time; the decision had to be made quickly. Everything fell into place. My duty was to respond to the call as quickly as possible, come to Belgrade, and make myself available to the national team.”

How did you perceive the FSS call—as a challenge, an obligation, or an emotional duty?

“All of that, to some extent. Since I was a child, I’ve been devoted to the national team. I was a player, a national team member, but I never fulfilled the dream of playing as many matches for the national team as I wanted. As a coach and head coach, that feeling comes back—primarily because of these guys in the photo behind us—from New Zealand. Maybe this is the last chance for us to be together on a shared mission again, like ten years ago. I couldn’t miss it. In the public eye, this is a tough task, but I know there is a group of guys who know how to win and know how to navigate these turbulent waters. That gives me confidence that we will build unity and achieve everything necessary for success. We are going all in, with all our hearts.”

You are known for believing in the team, even when circumstances are tough. How do you transfer that energy to the players?

“I always start with myself. Authenticity, belief in oneself. When you believe in what you do and the people around you, there’s no need to look for big words or an external source of motivation. It becomes a natural state of confidence and security that spreads to the entire team.”

Looking back at 2015 and the youth World Cup gold—what from that experience can you bring to the senior team now?

“Almost a month doesn’t go by without me watching some video from New Zealand. I’ve always had a vivid picture that one day we’d work together again. I’ve never forgotten those guys, nor where we started from. After that World Cup, I made a clip—our journey to the trophy. I watched it often, and even today, when I think about it, I feel the same excitement. I’m looking forward to working with some players who weren’t part of that generation, but who also possess championship potential.”

FSS

What were the reactions of those players when you told them you were taking over the national team again?

“I felt excitement and pride. I’m sorry that a few of them were injured and couldn’t respond to the call, as they are very important for the group, crucial for the team concept—both technically, tactically, and personally. But the reactions were wonderful. Over these ten years, we stayed in touch—encouraging each other through injuries, congratulating each other on successes, sharing moments. I heard from Bata Mirković, who led the team in Andorra, that the guys are still excellent professionals, that they respect each other, trust each other, and still have that same enthusiasm. I remember when we said goodbye after New Zealand, I told them I hoped they would keep those values no matter what happens in their careers. That’s why Bata’s information made me so happy. I’m proud of them.”

The first opponent is England, followed by Latvia—two completely different challenges. How are you approaching preparation?

“The first match is always the most important. We are fully focused on England—a team that has already secured qualification and has dominated during the qualifiers. They haven’t conceded a single goal, and their forwards have shown no mercy. It will be the toughest possible opponent. But in football, it’s always 11 versus 11. Heart, belief, and preparation often make the difference. We want to be brave, smart, organized, and to believe until the very end.”

Your father, Blagoje Paunović, was part of the team that recorded the last victory against England in Florence in 1968.

“Yes, and President Džajić scored the goal then. I remember those recordings and listened to my dad’s stories. That was a great day for our football. England was the reigning world champion at the time. We beat them back then—let’s give our best now as well. Football always offers a new opportunity, and it’s up to us to be worthy and deserving of it.”

Cesar Ortiz Gonzalez / Alamy / Profimedia

What does the “Serbian football identity” mean to you—something that should be visible on the field?

“To be organized, disciplined, brave, and to show our talent. Those are the four pillars. The order doesn’t matter; sometimes one stands out more than the others. Only when you combine all four do you get the fifth, which in football may be the most important—luck turning in your favor. From personal experience, both as a player and a coach, luck can be decisive in big matches, but only if you have fulfilled the previous four prerequisites.”

If you had to describe your current mission at the helm of the national team in one sentence, what would it be?

“We had a slogan in New Zealand, and it still applies today: God gives His hardest missions to His best chosen ones.”

What message would you give players before stepping onto Wembley, and what to the fans, who always expect more and never give up?

“The message is the same for everyone: to believe in each other, to give everything we have, and to never give up for a single moment. To be the best version of ourselves and to believe in success—in our teammates, in the group, and in the achievement we are chasing together,” Paunović stated clearly.