United’s South African legend Fortune gets Serbia job

Manchester United’s South African legend Quinton Fortune has been appointed as Serbia football team’s assistant coach, yet another milestone in his managerial career in Europe.

The 48-year-old will work under head coach Veljko Paunović, his boss at Mexican side CD Guadalajara Chivas three years ago.

The Football Association of Serbia appointed Paunovic to take charge of the national team in the remaining qualifiers for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. They face England in London on November 13 then Latvia three days later in Leskovac.

Fortune’s Mexican connection with Veljko Paunović

Fortune is part of the backroom team comprising other assistant coaches Nuno Miguel Gomes Bentes Lampreia, Claudio David Arzeno Pessuto, Aleksandar Rogić, goalkeepers’ coach Jesus Salvador Garrido and Alberto Martínez Fernández in charge of fitness.

The Cape Town-born man also worked with Arzeno and Gomes at Guadalajara Chivas under the leadership of Paunović.

Fortune was capped 46 times for South Africa but he never played much in his home country.

It was in Europe where the versatile defensive player made a name. Fortune played for Sir Alex Ferguson’s United squad of the early 2000, winning several trophies. He used to play as a defensive midfielder, winger and right back at times.

The South African worked at Reading FC as an assistant coach and served in a similar role at United Under-23 team and Cardiff City in England. Fortune also had a role as an elite coach for the England Elite Coach Programme.

The Bafana Bafana legend was arguably the first South African to play in Spain’s top-flight league. He was part of Atletico Madrid’s double-winning La Liga and Copa Del Rey squad of 1996.