On 26 January 2017, Giani resigned as coach, and on 2 March 2017, Slobodan Kovač became the new head coach. On 28 May 2017, Slovenia qualified for the 2018 edition of the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship for the first time. At the 2019 European Volleyball Championship, Slovenia was one of the four co-hosts of the tournament. The team reached the final again, where they lost 3–1 to Serbia, clinching their second silver medal in four years.