Podbrezová dismisses Markulík after poor attacking efficiency

FK Železiarne Podbrezová has parted ways with head coach Štefan Markulík following a 0-1 loss to newly promoted Banská Bystrica. Assistant Boris Godál has temporarily taken over coaching duties while the club seeks a permanent replacement. Markulík stated he received no prior warning about the decision, learning of his termination after a training session on Thursday.

General manager Miroslav Poliaček identified inadequate game performance as a key factor in the dismissal. Markulík acknowledged the team's struggles in the final third, pointing to statistical discrepancies between chance creation and conversion. The team recorded 14 goals against an expected goals value of 22.5, highlighting a significant lack of efficiency compared to league rivals.

The offensive difficulties coincided with the departure of key attackers Roland Galčík and Radek Šiler to Rio Ave. The duo had contributed 27 goals and nine assists across the previous season and the start of the current campaign. Markulík noted that integrating new signings and managing injuries further complicated the team's ability to convert chances during his final months.

Markulík spent five and a half years at the club, a duration he described as rare in Slovak football. During this period, he also served as an assistant to national team coach Vladimír Weiss. Markulík expressed gratitude for the opportunity and indicated he plans to rest before focusing on his upcoming duties with the national team setup.