Francesco Calzona will no longer be the coach of Slovakia. The Slovak Football Association informed about this on Tuesday afternoon. He stated as the reason that he wanted a two-year contract for the Italian coach, but he insisted on a longer one, and therefore the agreement fell through.
However, the coach, who worked in Slovakia for three and a half years, claims that everything was different. He gave an explanation for Sport daily.
“That’s not true. I’m surprised that spokesman Juraj Čurný announced it this way. He wasn’t even present at the meeting. I spoke with Karol Belaník and we agreed on what to tell the media,” he describes his view of the Calzino matter.
“As soon as I left the meeting, they started writing me messages to change my position, but I refused and demanded that they respect the agreement. However, SFZ communicated differently, so I think it is right to clarify things. Fortunately, Marek Hamšík was also present at the meeting, who can confirm my words,” he added.
Finally, he gave his version of the whole meeting…
“Karol Belaník offered me a two-year contract without obligations to improve the functioning of youth football, because the association has economic difficulties. I rejected it because it is the right time to change its organization, as the Slovak youth sector is going through a difficult period.
I suggested allocating more funds to the youth, even at the expense of the senior national team, because we need it. Our 15-19 national teams need more training camps and matches. I did not reject the offer because of the length of the contract, because of the lack of a clear development philosophy.
I’m sorry that Karol Belaník said something different than we agreed. He was unprofessional and showed me no respect.”
According to Calzona, the SFZ were afraid that they would not come out well from this media situation. “I’m not disappointed with President Kováčik, he didn’t play any role in this matter. I’m just surprised that they changed their official statements an hour after our communication agreement. This confirmed to me that it’s time to part ways,” added Calzona to Denník Šport.
Perhaps the most controversial part of his confession is the memory of the situation when the implementation team of the under-21 national team under the leadership of Jaroslav Kentoš secretly watched his training.
“The biggest disappointment was finding out that coach Kentoš’s team secretly filmed our training sessions behind closed doors in Senec on the days when we were preparing offensive and defensive plans.
It was a blow I could not bear. They should have been the first assistants of A, but instead they turned out to be poor people.”
Calzona said goodbye on Instagram
Francesco Calzona wrote a farewell letter on the Instagram social network. In it, he thanked the Slovak Football Association and the Slovak nation. Read it in its entirety. We bring it to you in full.
Thank you, Slovakia.
Together, we achieved extraordinary sports achievements and wrote beautiful chapters of an incredible story.
As a person, I will forever be grateful to the Slovak Football Association and President Ján Kováčik. For the trust they gave me and which they constantly confirmed in me – by deeds, until the last day – showing the will to continue on a path that brought us a lot of joy, but which I felt it was time to close.
By shaking hands.
The way it all began.
As a coach, I will forever be proud of the football we played. Against every opponent, we stayed true to ourselves and always tried to win. That was my goal – and the fact that we succeeded is the most important result for me.
I thank my players: the leaders and the youngest. A perfect combination, in which everyone contributed to the creation of an exceptional team, always giving their best – humanly, even more than football. In every training session, in every match.
All together, for one goal: for the good of the national team.
Thank you to my implementation team: the perfect partners on this incredible journey. My gratitude goes to each of them.
Special thanks, of course, go to Marek. It all started with his phone call and I will never forget it. He will continue to make a difference – because he is a true champion and always will be.
I thank the medical team, the custodians, the sports administration and every employee of the association that I have met over the years.
To the department of communication, marketing, to everyone who worked behind the scenes with passion and professionalism, which always made me feel important and I felt your support at every moment.
The biggest thanks goes to the Slovak nation. It took little time for us to understand each other.
Thank you.
For accompanying and supporting me in getting to know your country until I fell in love with it. Thank you – for teaching me your proud spirit.
Thank you all for making me a better person and professional.
Francesco
