Slovakia's head coach Karzona has been officially dismissed, and his successor has not yet been determined.

The Slovak Football Association (SFZ) officially announced on Monday that 57-year-old Francisco Calzona will no longer serve as the national team coach.

Calzona's coaching career began in 2008, with early stints as an assistant coach under renowned managers such as Maurizio Sarri and Luciano Spalletti. Since taking charge of Slovakia in July 2022, he has achieved a record of 19 wins, 8 draws, and 13 losses in international competitions, leading the team to the Round of 16 of the 2024 European Championship and the semi-finals of the European qualifying playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.

Calzona also briefly served as Napoli's manager in the first half of 2024. He managed Napoli for 16 matches, with a record of 3 wins, 9 draws, and 4 losses.

According to multiple sources, Calzona's term ended on March 31st of this year. Due to the failure to reach an agreement on a contract renewal, the two sides ultimately chose to part ways.

“The two sides failed to reach an agreement on the duration of the cooperation,” Slovak Football Federation Vice President Karol Belanik also stated in a statement. “Although there will certainly be plenty of opportunities in the future, I would like to thank him on behalf of Slovak football for his work since taking office in the summer of 2022.”

According to official statements, the crux of the split was that Calzona rejected a two-year contract extension from the Football Association. He preferred a long-term contract, aiming to coach the national team until the 2030 World Cup.

As for Karzona's successor, the Slovak Football Association has not yet announced anything. They only stated in a press release: "The national team coach selection committee will continue its work as planned, taking this situation into consideration. The Slovak Football Association will continue to keep the football community and the public informed of the relevant progress and results."

Image source: Internet/SFZ official website