![]() Paunic captaining TFC Academy in 2012 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Nikola Paunić | ||
Date of birth | October 13, 1993 | ||
Place of birth | Podgorica, FR Yugoslavia | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Youth career | |||
2003–2009 | Serbian White Eagles | ||
2012 | Toronto FC | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2011–2012 | Toronto Varsity Blues | 22 | (1) |
2013–2014 | South Florida Bulls | 40 | (1) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2009–2011 | Serbian White Eagles | 4 | (0) |
2014 | K-W United | 8 | (0) |
2015 | Orange County Blues | 4 | (0) |
International career | |||
2012 | Canada U20 | 4 | (0) |
* Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Nikola Paunic (born October 13, 1993) is a Canadian former soccer player.
Paunic played two years of college soccer at the University of Toronto. [1]
In 2013, he transferred to the University of South Florida. [2] [3] In his debut season with the Bulls, he was named twice as the American Conference's defensive player of the week. [4] He also helped South Florida win the American Conference title by defeating the University of Connecticut in a penalty shootout. [5]
In his second season, he was named the conference's defensive player of the week in October. [6] Once the season concluded, he was named to the conference all-tournament team. [7]
Paunic played his youth career with the Serbian White Eagles and would play with both the team's senior and reserve teams in the Canadian Soccer League. [8] In 2011, while playing with Serbia's reserve team in the league's second division, he was nominated for the defender of the year award. [9] In 2012, he joined TFC Academy's senior team in the league's first division, where he was named team captain. [2] Paunic helped the academy side secure a playoff berth. [10] Once the season concluded, he was nominated for both the defender and rookie of the year award. [11]
Paunic was selected to represent Toronto FC in the 2013 Dallas Cup. [12] He played in the tournament, where he appeared in a match against Tigres UANL. [13] He also played with Toronto FC's reserve team in the MLS Reserve League. [14] [15]
Paunic also appeared for USL PDL side K-W United FC in 2014. [16] [17] In his debut season in the PDL circuit, he helped the team secure a postseason berth by finishing second in their division. [18] Their playoff journey ended in the first round after a defeat by Des Moines Menace in a penalty shootout. [19]
On January 20, 2015, Paunic was selected 74th overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. [20] [21] After he wasn't signed by Vancouver, he joined United Soccer League side Orange County Blues on June 2, 2015. [22] [23] The club would secure a playoff berth by clinching its conference title. [24]
In 2012, Paunic was called to a camp for the Canada men's national under-20 soccer team in Florida. [25] Several months later, he was selected to represent the Canada U20 team in the Marbella Cup. [26] [27]
Paunic became a coach for the Stella Rossa Football Club Academy in the Ontario Academy Soccer League. [28]
Following his retirement from competitive soccer, he transitioned into the culinary realm by operating a family-run restaurant that serves Serbian cuisine. [29]
Orange County Blues
South Florida Bulls