The Chicago Fire has fired coach Veljko Paunović, multiple sources with knowledge of the decision told The Athletic on Tuesday night. Paunović went 41-58-37 over four seasons with Chicago.



One source said that club general manager and president Nelson Rodriguez informed Paunović of the decision, but it’s not yet clear if Rodriguez or new club owner Joe Mansueto made the decision to fire Paunović. Rodriguez notably told reporters at his postseason roundtable in October that Paunović, who signed a new, two-year contract after the 2018 campaign, would return in 2020.



A Chicago Fire spokesperson declined to comment.



It’s also not clear what the move means for Rodriguez. Hired as club GM in September 2015, the former league-level executive brought Paunović to Chicago ahead of the 2016 season and then re-signed him to that multi-year deal after his initial contract expired. Rodriguez repeatedly and publicly...