Slovenia fires Kavcic after he criticized Oblak

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The Football Association of Slovenia (NZS) dismissed Tomaz Kavcic, manager of Slovenia's national soccer team, hours after he openly blamed the team's goalkeeper Jan Oblak for refusing to play in international games for injury recovery.

At a press conference, Kavcic appeared not happy with Oblak's decision and the reason he gave. "Ask who? For what? This is the national team. Who do I have to ask? To play for the national team? Why? What is the message that is being sent? What are we saying to the others?" questioned Kavcic.

Jan Oblak, goalkeeper of Slovenia's national soccer team /VCG Photo

"All the doors are still open, they have to be open, but I want to speak to people face to face, with everyone, and he doesn't speak to me. Jan... okay, he has messed up, I know this kid since he was 16. How sad... he is my great personal defeat… But I keep saying. Slovenia needs him despite everything," added Kavcic.

Spanish sports media outlet AS said that accusations against Oblak "caused the federation to sack the manager". Radenko Mijatovic, president of the NZS, denied such a report and told media: "It will never be because of a player that we change coach."

Slovenia's poor performance under Kavcic is considered as one of the reasons behind his sacking. /VCG Photo

Kavcic was appointed as Slovenia's manager in December 2017. He led the team play seven games in 2018 but only won one of them. It should be reasonable to assume that such poor performance by his team contributed to his exit.

The other man involved with the story, Oblak is currently training with La Liga's Atletico Madrid to prepare for their game against Villarreal.

Either way, Slovenia will need to find a replacement manager to help their team with the games against Norway and Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League in November.