Francesco Calzona won’t continue as Slovakia’s national team coach
Francesco Calzona will not continue as coach of Slovakia’s national team, the Slovak soccer association said on Monday. Calzona’s contract expired on March 31 and the association offered him a two-year extension. “After an open mutual debate, it was agreed that Francesco Calzona will not continue working with our national team,” the association said.
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Francesco Calzona will not continue as coach of Slovakia’s national team, the Slovak soccer association said on Monday. Calzona’s contract expired on March 31 and the association offered him a two-year extension. “After an open mutual debate, it was agreed that Francesco Calzona will not continue working with our national team,” the association said.
“There was no agreement on the length of the cooperation. ” The 57-year-old former Napoli coach took over Slovakia in August 2022. His last game in charge was a 2-0 friendly win over Romania on March 31, five days after a 4-3 home loss to Kosovo in the 2026 World Cup playoffs.
Under Calzona, Slovakia came close to reaching the quarterfinals of a major tournament for the first time since becoming an independent state in 1993. At the 2022 European Championship in Germany, Slovakia conceded a stoppage-time equalizer to England and then lost 2-1 after extra time in a round of 16 game. Slovakia made the World Cup qualifying playoffs after finishing second in European Group A behind Germany, stunning the group winner 2-0 at home on the way.
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