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Italian Calzona quits as Slovakia coach / Photo: Odd ANDERSEN - AFP/File
NYSE - LSE
Italian Calzona quits as Slovakia coach
Italian coach Francesco Calzona has stepped down from his job as Slovakia boss after four years in charge, the Slovak football association (SFZ) said Monday.
Slovakia reached the last 16 at Euro 2024 under the 57-year-old but failed to qualify for this year's World Cup, losing to Kosovo in the play-offs.
"After an open debate we have agreed that Francesco Calzona will not continue with the national team," SFZ vice-president Karol Belanik said in a statement.
He added the SFZ and Calzona failed to agree on the length of a new contract as the association offered two years, while the coach wanted more.
An assistant coach at Napoli from 2015-18 and 2021-22, Calzona signed with Slovakia in 2022 after a recommendation from former Napoli and Slovakia midfielder Marek Hamsik.
He was also Napoli head coach for four months at the end of the 2023/24 season, while also continuing with Slovakia, before being replaced by Antonio Conte.
Slovakia comfortably qualified for Euro 2024, where they beat Belgium in the group stage before losing to England after extra time in the last 16.
But they were stunned 4-3 by Kosovo at home in the 2026 World Cup play-off semi-finals last month after finishing second behind Germany in qualifying Group A.
J.P.Hoffmann--BlnAP
