Flavio Gulinelli began coaching the Slovakian national team in November 2013
Bratislava, Slovakia, July 8, 2015. The Board of Administration of the Slovak Volleyball Federation (SVF) decided on Wednesday to part ways with the coach of their men’s national team, Flavio Gulinelli, as well as with his assistant Marek Kardos and their staff.
Slovakia failed to make the Final Round of the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship Poland 2014 and last weekend finished only third at the FIVB Volleyball World League Group 3 Finals, thereby missing out on their chance to move up to Group 2 in 2016.
The 57-year-old Italian-born Gulinelli mentored the Slovakian national team from November 2013 and was in charge of the group at four major events.
In January 2014, Slovakia missed out on a spot in the Final Round of the Men's World Championship after finishing a disappointing third in a home qualifier held in the city of Poprad, where the charts were topped by Finland.
Later in 2014, Slovakia booked a spot in the Final Round of the 2015 CEV Volleyball European Championship, which is due to take place in October 2015 in Bulgaria and Italy. Slovakia secured their fifth appearance in the European Championship Final Round since the country’s independence back in 1993.
In June 2014, Gulinelli led Slovakia in their first World League appearance, with the team qualifying for the Group 3 Finals held in Turkey where they finished in fourth place.
Last week Slovakia hosted the World League Group 3 Finals in Bratislava with their clear goal being to win the tournament in order to move up to Group 2 for the next edition in 2016. However, the home heroes lost to Egypt in the semis and had to be content with third place after besting China in the bronze medal match.
Gulinelli and his assistant Marek Kardos guided Slovakia in 41 matches, winning 21; their record in international competitions stands at 12 wins and 13 losses.
SVF President Lubor Halanda is now in charge of starting talks with potential candidates for the position, on behalf of the Board of Administration of the Slovak Volleyball Federation. The name of the new coach will be announced in due course.