Slovak coach Francesco Calzona Source: TASR/Jaroslav Novák
BRATISLAVA – The Slovak Football Association (SFZ) has decided to grant the national team coach Francesco Calzona permission to lead SSC Napoli until the end of the ongoing season under predetermined conditions.
Last week, the union already agreed with the Italian coach on a new contract until the end of 2025, which will be automatically extended until the end of the performance of the Slovak football team in the final tournament in case of progress to the 2026 World Cup.
SFZ’s consent is limited in time to the period from February 19 until SSC Napoli’s last Serie A or Champions League match of the 2023/24 season. At the same time, the Calzona coach is obliged to comply with all contractual obligations arising from the valid contract with SFZ. The coach must be available for the Slovak national football team at all times, but not exclusively, during the association dates of national football teams determined by the international football calendar. All members of the SFZ executive committee agreed to such a procedure.
“It wasn’t until Sunday, February 18 that an official request came from SSC Napoli that Francesco Calzona could perform the function of head coach of the club in addition to the function of head coach of the Slovak national football team.
After intensive talks with F. Calzona and consultations with SFZ president Ján Kováčik, vice-president for the national team Karol Belaník and members of the executive committee, SFZ decided to give consent to F. Calzona to also lead SSC Napoli under the specified conditions.” it is stated in the union’s official statement that SFZ has the right to withdraw its consent at any time in case of non-compliance with any of these conditions.
“The Slovak Football Association is aware that this is a non-standard decision that may cause concern among the public. However, it also understands F. Calzona’s exceptional relationship with the club where he worked for a long time and wants to help him in the current difficult situation. Coach F. Calzona has repeatedly declared that the main priority of his activity remains the Slovak national football team and its preparation for the final tournament EURO 2024,” informed SFZ.
SFZ conditions for approval for F. Calzona to lead SSC Napoli /source: futbalsfz.sk/:
1. consent is limited in time to the period from 19.2. until SSC Napoli’s last Serie A or Champions League game in the 2023/24 season
2. the coach is obliged to comply with all contractual obligations arising from the valid contract with SFZ
3. the coach will be available for the Slovak national football team always, but not exclusively, during the association dates of the national football teams determined by the international football calendar, including personal presence at the nomination press conference before the March matches of the Slovak national team
- Author: © List/
- Source: TASR
2024-02-19 20:00:48
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