Diniz sacked by Corinthians after loss to Internacional, marking second dismissal this season

Fernando Diniz was dismissed as Corinthians manager on October 7 following a 2-1 defeat to Internacional in Porto Alegre. The result left Corinthians 16th in the 20-team Brasileirão, just one point above the relegation zone with nine matches remaining. Diniz's departure marks his second sacking in the same 2026 season—he was previously dismissed from Vasco in the third round of the competition.

Diniz had managed Corinthians for six months, compiling 13 wins, 8 draws, and 12 losses since replacing Dorival Junior in April. The club endured a dramatic downturn in form, losing seven consecutive league matches leading into the match against Internacional. Corinthians had plummeted from three points above the Libertadores qualification zone to three points above the relegation zone in less than two months. The situation was compounded by elimination from the Copa Libertadores at the hands of Estudiantes in late September and a 3-1 home defeat to Fluminense shortly after.

Despite the pressure, Corinthians' board initially chose to retain Diniz after that Fluminense loss, with senior players including Rodrigo Garro, Gustavo Henrique, and Memphis Depay reportedly backing the coach and believing the situation could be reversed. However, the subsequent defeat to Internacional proved decisive. The club faces an immediate fixture against Palmeiras on October 11, with consecutive victories viewed internally as crucial for stabilizing the situation.

Diniz's double dismissal within a single Brasileirão season is unprecedented. Spanish newspaper As highlighted the broader instability in Brazilian football, noting that 19 managers have been sacked since the start of the 2026 season. The publication criticized the "fragility" of Brazilian clubs' sporting projects, using the term "triturador" (grinder) to describe how the league destroys managerial tenures, contrasting this volatility with Brazil's continental dominance in the Copa Libertadores.

Internacional, which defeated Corinthians, also underwent a managerial change before the match, with Eduardo Baptista replacing Paulo Pezzolano in the technical area. Baptista marked his debut with the victory, though Internacional remained in 18th place with 28 points.