Former Reading FC manager Veljko Paunovic is celebrating success after his Real Oviedo team won promotion to the top division in Spain.
Following a 24-year absence from la Liga, Oviedo completed a dramatic comeback in their semi-final tie against Almeria before they defeated CD Mirandes in the final.
Their return to the top flight was spearheaded by former Arsenal favourite 40-year-old Santi Cazorla, who rejoined his boyhood club in 2023.
Having scored the winning goal in the semi-final with a free-kick, Cazorla also netted in the final to equalise for his team as they went on to win promotion.
Paunovic joined Reading in 2020 and managed the Royals until he was sacked in February 2022.
After a superb start to life in Reading with the team fighting among the top six all season, the Royals fell out of the play-off places and missed out by one place in the 2020/21 campaign.
The second season proved problematic and after a humiliating 7-0 home defeat to Fulham and an FA Cup exit to non-league Kidderminster Harriers, Paunovic was eventually sacked in February 2022.
Since leaving Reading, Paunovic has managed Mexican side Guadalajara, Tigres UANL and was appointed as Real Oviedo manager in March 2025.
Paunovic will now be managing in the Spanish top flight next season competing against the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
