Less than 24 hours after firing Dorival Júnior, 63, Corinthians agreed to hire Fernando Diniz as their new coach this Monday (6). The Rio coach is in talks with the club, waiting for the contract to be signed so it can be officially announced.
The change means that the club will have, in sequence, the last two coaches of the Brazilian team before the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti, but in the opposite direction to that of the national team. At Parque São Jorge, roles were exchanged: Dorival left his position, and Diniz took his place.
Diniz was fired from the national team in January 2024, after just six games and a performance of just 39% — the third worst start among anyone who has managed the team considering the same profile. Interim since the beginning, he recorded two wins, one draw and three defeats, including an unprecedented sequence of three setbacks in this year’s World Cup qualifiers.
Dorival, his successor, had better numbers (58.3% success), but without significant results or consolidation of the team, which also led to his departure before the CBF, finally, closed an agreement with Ancelotti, in May of last year.
At Corinthians, change occurs amid pressure for results. Without winning in nine games and close to the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship, the club accelerated negotiations to count on Diniz for the Libertadores debut, against Platense, on Thursday (9), in Buenos Aires.
On Sunday (12), looking for a reaction at Nacional, the black and white team will face a difficult clash against Palmeiras, at the Neo Química Arena, in Itaquera.
In addition to the Brasileiro and Libertadores, Corinthians is competing in the Copa do Brasil next year. Recently, the national knockout stage put the club and its now new coach face to face in the decision. In December last year, with Dorival, the black and white team beat Vasco, then led by Diniz, and took the title.
The trophy boosted Dorival’s image, while Diniz continued with his contested status. In February of this year, the Rio native ended up being fired from the Vasco team.
Diniz has been in the spotlight on the national scene since 2016, when he led the modest Audax to the Paulista final. At the time, they ended up being surpassed by Santos, but their work was marked. Since then, he has played for Athletico, Fluminense, Santos, São Paulo, Vasco and Cruzeiro.
In 2023, he experienced the peak of his career, leading Fluminense to win the Libertadores.
His work has always carried a very authorial stamp, with teams formed to have possession of the ball, avoid shots and force the exchange of passes even in risky situations, such as leaving the defense.
At Corinthians, despite the current delicate situation, there is an understanding that the players who make up the squad have characteristics that Diniz can exploit with his style.
