Four defeats in a row in the Paulista Championship were the trigger for Corinthians to fire coach Mano Menezes. The home defeat in the classic against São Paulo had already been a very hard blow, although the last straw was the loss, again at the Neo Química Arena, against Novorizontino, from the second division.
“Menezes is no longer the coach of the senior men’s soccer team. In addition to him, the assistant coach, Sidnei Lobo, and the physical trainer, Diogo Linhares, leave their positions. The club thanks the professionals for the services provided and wishes them success in the future of their careers,” the institution announced in a statement. Assistant coach Thiago Kosloski will take charge on an interim basis.
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Márcio Zanardi, of São Bernardo, from the third division, is the favorite to take the reins, according to the local press. Whatever the hiring, the board knows that it must do it quickly, since Timão is in the red zone in the Paulista Championship and in two months the Brasileirão starts.
Menezes, 61, was completing his third stage at Corinthians and had a contract until the end of 2025. Last year, he had an irregular season: he finished 13th in the Brasileirão, played in the semifinals of the Copa Sudamericana and qualified for this year’s edition of that continental tournament.
Beyond this, in recent weeks and with the series of consecutive defeats, the internal climate became tense. The coach, who has been demanding incorporations after the departure of important players, starred in a series of controversies by publicly criticizing midfielder Raniele and forward Yuri Alberto.
