Seedorf takes Corinthians job amid relegation fight

Corinthians appointed Clarence Seedorf as head coach on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, with a contract running through December 2027. The club sits 16th in the 20-team Brazilian league on 32 points, one place above the relegation zone, and carries a 35.9 percent relegation probability. Seedorf replaces Fernando Diniz, fired on Wednesday, Oct. 7 after seven straight league defeats—the club's worst losing run since 2006. Corinthians' league record is 8 wins, 8 draws and 13 defeats, with 30 goals scored and 34 conceded; its last league win came Aug. 9 in a 2-0 victory over Red Bull Bragantino. Seedorf's previous coaching stops include AC Milan, where he won 11 of 22 matches, plus Shenzhen, Deportivo La Coruna and Cameroon, a role that ended in 2019. The squad he inherits includes Memphis Depay and Jesse Lingard. Depay publicly criticized Corinthians for unacceptable behaviour after a contract extension was withdrawn, then re-signed until 2028. The club has also been eliminated from the Copa do Brasil round of 16 and the Libertadores quarterfinals. Seedorf is expected to arrive in Brazil on Monday, Oct. 12, and oversee his first training session on Tuesday, Oct. 13.