Corinthians have appointed Clarence Seedorf as their head coach, handing the former Netherlands midfielder a contract that runs until the end of 2027. The 50-year-old returns to the dugout for the first time since 2019, when he was in charge of the Cameroon national team.
The job is a demanding one. Corinthians sit 16th in the Brazilian top flight, one place above the relegation zone, with eight league games remaining. Seedorf replaces Fernando Diniz, the former interim coach of the Brazil national team, who was dismissed last week after the club lost seven consecutive league matches.
Seedorf’s coaching career to date has been mixed. After a spell with Cameroon, his previous club roles came at AC Milan, Shenzhen FC and Deportivo La Coruna, all of which the source material characterises as underwhelming. He is under no illusion about the scale of the task awaiting him in Sao Paulo. “Taking on this challenge is an honour, but also a huge responsibility. I am here to give my all and build a team that fights for every ball, every minute, every victory,” he said.
He inherits a squad that includes two former Manchester United players in Memphis Depay and Jesse Lingard, and a club fighting to preserve its top-flight status over the closing weeks of the campaign.
As a player, Seedorf retired in 2014 after a decorated career that brought four Champions League titles – two with AC Milan, one with Real Madrid and one with Ajax. He remains the only player to have won the competition with three different clubs. He also won 87 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 11 goals.