Corinthians have sacked head coach Fernando Diniz after a 2-1 defeat to Internacional at the Beira-Rio extended the club’s miserable losing run to seven straight league games.
The Sao Paulo giants confirmed Diniz’s departure late on Wednesday night, minutes after the final whistle in Porto Alegre. The result in round 29 of the Campeonato Brasileiro left Corinthians 16th in the table with 32 points, just one point above the relegation zone.
It is the 19th managerial exit of the 2026 Brasileirao season, underlining the churn at the top of Brazilian football.
The final straw at the Beira-Rio
Diniz’s fate was sealed by goals from Vitinho and Alan Patrick, who struck for Internacional in what was Eduardo Baptista’s first game in charge. Andre replied for the visitors, but it was not enough to prevent a seventh consecutive league defeat.
The run began with 2-1 losses to Cruzeiro and Coritiba, followed by a 1-0 reverse against Santos and 2-1 defeats to Chapecoense, Flamengo and Fluminense. Four of the seven losses came at home, a damning statistic for a club of Corinthians’ stature.
According to OneFootball, the club announced that Diniz and his entire backroom staff had been relieved of their duties, thanking them and wishing them well. Departing with the 52-year-old are assistant Leo Porto, fitness coach Wagner Bertelli, performance analyst Lucas Vergne and physiologist Luiz Fernando.
A record of decline
Diniz arrived at Corinthians in early April, taking over the staff of Dorival Junior. Across around 34 matches in all competitions he returned 13 wins, nine draws and 12 defeats, a points return of just over 47 per cent.
The league form told the worst of the story. Corinthians have not moved from 32 points for months and now sit one place above Internacional, who occupy the first relegation spot on 31 points. As reported by OneFootball, the threat of the drop is now real for a club that considers itself among South America’s elite.
The misery extended beyond the league. Corinthians were knocked out of the Copa do Brasil in the last 16 by Internacional and exited the Copa Libertadores in the quarter-finals at home to Argentina’s Estudiantes. As SoyFutbol noted, Diniz’s six-month spell was further complicated by the contract renewal saga surrounding Dutch star Memphis Depay, whose future dominated headlines off the pitch.
Club executive Marcelo Paz admitted it was a “tough moment” and stressed the need for a “fresh start” as Corinthians fight for survival with nine rounds remaining.
What next for Corinthians?
The timing could hardly be worse. Corinthians travel to Palmeiras on Sunday for one of the fiercest derbies in world football, and the new coach will have barely any time to prepare. The board is already working on a replacement, with reports in Brazil linking Sylvinho among the leading candidates.
Whoever takes over inherits a squad low on confidence and a fanbase running out of patience. Nine games remain and the margin for error has disappeared.
What next for Diniz?
For Diniz, this is another painful chapter in a turbulent few years. The coach who briefly held the Brazil national team job before Ancelotti was appointed now finds himself out of work again, having failed to steady one of the biggest clubs on the continent.
His expansive, possession-heavy philosophy won admirers but rarely delivered the consistency demanded at this level. After six months and no trophies, Corinthians decided they had seen enough.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Fernando Diniz’s dismissal is the 19th managerial sacking of the 2026 Brasileirao and a stark reminder that reputation counts for nothing when results collapse. Seven straight defeats left Corinthians with no choice, and the new man must hit the ground running with a derby at Palmeiras on Sunday.
Do you think Diniz deserved more time, or was this the only possible outcome?
