The Albanian Football Federation (FSHF) announced the renewal of contracts with the national team coach Sylvio Mendes Campos Júnior, known as Sylvinho, along with his two assistant coaches, Pablo Javier Zabaleta Girod and Dorival Guidoni Junior. The new contracts will extend until December 2025, with the aim of ensuring continuity and stability in the coaching staff ahead of upcoming UEFA Nations League matches and World Cup qualifiers.

Why is this relevant

Following the successful qualification for the European Championship in Germany 2024, the primary objective of the National Football Team now shifts towards securing a spot for Albania in the 2026 World Cup finals for the first time in the country’s history. The renewal marks the end of speculations about Sylvinho’s future and the Team concentrate on meeting their historic objective.   

Context

Under Sylvinho’s leadership, the Albanian national team has demonstrated remarkable progress and consistency. This includes their second-ever qualification for a European Championship, where they exhibited commendable performances in qualifying matches and competed admirably against high-level opponents such as Italy, Croatia, and Spain during Euro 2024.

According to FSHF’s Communication Department, preparations for the qualifying matches and upcoming competitions will commence immediately under the guidance of the coaching trio. The UEFA Nations League presents the first challenge, providing crucial preparation for the team’s campaign towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.