Reading have appointed Veljko Paunovic as their new manager with Mark Bowen set to return to his former role of director of football at the Championship club.
As a player, Paunovic was an attacking midfielder for teams including Atletico Madrid and Getafe, as well as representing Serbia and Montenegro.
Paunovic has managed Serbia at youth team level, and spent four years as head coach of Chicago Fire in the MLS.
Reading finished 14th in the English second-flight last season and the club's owner Dai Yongge is confident their new coach can help improve their fortunes int he coming campaign.
“With vast experience of top flight football as both a player and a coach across Europe and in the United States, and with proven pedigree of successfully working with young up-and-coming footballers on both the domestic and international scene, I am confident Veljko can help take this club forward," Yongge told Reading's website.
“This has been a process and this appointment has been made only after long, careful consideration. After meeting with him, we found Veljko to be an exceptional candidate who impressed us immediately. I am sure he is the right man for Reading Football Club. I’m delighted he has agreed to sign as our new manager.”
