Dragan Stojkovic has announced his resignation as coach of the Serbian national football team.
The 60-year-old drew the consequences immediately after the 0-1 defeat in the World Cup qualifier against Albania on Saturday evening (October 11th, 2025). “This defeat should not have happened and I take responsibility”said Stojkovic after the game.
After five games, Serbia is in third place in Group K with seven points behind leaders England (15), managed by Thomas Tuchel, and the Albanians (11). In the fight for a playoff ticket, the 2022 World Cup participant is under pressure to act.
On Tuesday we face bottom team Andorra. There is speculation in the Serbian media that Veljko Paunovic could succeed Stojkovic.
Formative player
Stojkovic had managed Serbia in more than 50 games since 2021. As a player, he was a defining figure of the Yugoslav national team and ran for, among others, Red Star Belgrade, Olympique Marseille and Nagoya Grampus Eight.
After his playing career, he first worked as a club president in Belgrade and later as a coach in Japan and China.