SÃO PAULO — Although Corinthians is not doing well sportingly, Clarence Seedorf has decided to become coach of the Brazilian football club. Corinthians is just above the relegation zone at the highest level in Brazil. The number sixteen in the rankings has now lost seven league matches in a row. “It is an honor that I can take on this challenge, but it also brings a lot of responsibility. I am going to give everything and build a team that fights for every ball, every minute, for every success,” Seedorf, advisor to the Royal Dutch Football Association, said on the club website.
Four days ago, Corinthians fired Fernando Diniz after their seventh consecutive defeat. He was allowed to leave after the loss at Internacional (1-2), which is also fighting relegation. The former national coach of Brazil was coach of the club from São Paulo for just six months.
“Seedorf is a great professional and a great champion, with a strong academic background. We start our collaboration with great enthusiasm”
Sporting director Marcelo Paz
Seedorf has not been Corinthians’ first choice. After Diniz’s dismissal, former Argentinian international Ramón Díaz (67) was named as his successor by the Brazilian media. It should be a return for him, because he was already trainer of Corinthians in 2024/25. However, Díaz passed up the job. Sylvinho, Fábio Carille and Sebastián Beccacece, who were mentioned afterwards, also did not accept the offer.
Seedorf finally agreed. A great challenge awaits him. The fifty-year-old’s step is daring, because Corinthians have major sporting problems. The club will play the derby against number two Palmeiras on Sunday evening, after which there are still eight league matches to go. Seedorf is not yet in front of the group against Palmeiras. He is expected in Brazil soon.
‘Brazilian past’
Seedorf has signed a contract with Corinthians until the end of 2027. For him, this move, which was confirmed by the club on Sunday, is a return to Brazilian football. The 87-time Dutch international ended his career as a player at Botafogo.
The former player of Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan, among others, then entered the coaching profession. Seedorf successively worked for AC Milan (Italy), Shenzhen (China), Deportivo La Coruña (Spain) and the national football selection of Cameroon as head coach for the group. After being fired by Cameroon in July 2019, he was left without a club or national team.
Big names such as Memphis Depay, Zakaria Labyad and Jesse Lingard play at Corinthians. The club has announced that Seedorf’s past in the Brazilian competition played a role in the choice of the former midfielder, who was last a coach in 2019. “Seedorf is a great professional and a great champion, with a strong academic background. We have had excellent discussions and start our collaboration with great enthusiasm,” said sporting director Marcelo Paz.
