Calzona's future as Slovakia's coach was discussed on Monday by a four-member committee comprising SFZ vice-president for the national team Karol Belanik, SFZ vice-president for professional football Ivan Kozak, executive committee member for coaches Ján Kocian and the association's technical director Oto Brunegraf.
"SFZ and Francesco Calzona did not agree on the terms of further cooperation at the meeting. SFZ offered him a contract for a two-year cycle, which he refused, as his idea was for a longer period.
"Negotiations on his continuation with the Slovak national football team were therefore terminated. SFZ would like to thank him and his team for their work for our national team and also for the contribution they have made to the game and the results they have achieved," said Juraj Curny, SFZ press spokesman, at Monday's press briefing.
"I will mention in particular the excellent performance of our national team at the European Championship 2024, or even the victory over Germany in the qualification last September.
"The committee for the selection of the national coach will continue its activities continuously in accordance with its previous plan, which also envisaged this option. The SFZ will keep the football and the general public informed about its progress and results," Curny added.
Calzona became the coach of the Slovakia national team on August 30, 2022. Two years ago, he lead them to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, in which they lost to England 2-1 after extra time.
In qualification for the 2026 World Cup, Slovakia finished second in Group A behind Germany and had another chance to qualify in the play-offs. However, after a 4-3 home loss to Kosovo in the semi-finals of the play-offs, Slovakia failed to qualify for the World Cup finals for the second time in its history.
The failure to qualify meant that there was no automatic extension of the contract, which expired on 31 March. On that day, the Italian coach was still leading the team in a 2-0 friendly win against Romania.
"There will certainly be plenty of room, but I would like to thank him here and now on behalf of Slovak football for the work he has done as national coach since the summer of 2022," Belanik said.
SFZ is thus looking for a new national coach. Belanik did not specify whether he had already found a name.
"That is in the hands of the committee, which works so that the selection process is not burdened by various layers. It will not publish anything that is not relevant or confirmed in some way, but only things that make sense. The commission is tasked with finding a national coach and will subordinate everything to that," added Curny.
