It was in the pipeline, it is now official: Fernando Diniz, current coach of Fluminense, will take the head of the Brazilian National Team as an interim, without leaving his post at Fluminense, pending the nomination of Ancelotti at office.
Fernando Diniz has been appointed for a one-year term. He went to CBF (the Brazilian FA) headquarters to finalise details with President Ednaldo Rodrigues. The latter also made it clear that Carlo Ancelotti, from Real Madrid, will take on the role of coach during the Copa América and until the 2026 World Cup.
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“Among the many good coaches in Brazil, Diniz was chosen because of his innovative approach, which he has developed since working with Audax. He then applied this same philosophy of play in other clubs without ever deviating from his method. I personally really appreciated the tactical renewal he brought. Thus, Diniz is a coach whose style of play is almost similar to that which Ancelotti will offer after the Copa América,” declared the president of the CBF.
Fernando Diniz also expressed his joy at being appointed as interim national team coach: “A dream for anyone, an honour and a great pride to be able to serve the national team. It is a joint work of the CBF with Fluminense and I have the conviction that we have everything it takes to move forward and make it work,” affirmed Diniz.
Diniz will take on two roles
Diniz will take on two roles simultaneously. During negotiations, it was agreed that he would stay at Fluminense and juggle his job with the Brazilian club while taking on his responsibilities on FIFA dates as coach of the national team. The CBF have entered into discussions with the club to secure his release, but it has been made clear that a fine will be required in order for it to happen.
Eventually, the two parties reached a consensus. Thanks to this agreement, the Fluminense will not suffer any penalties during key moments of the season, such as the Copa Libertadores qualifiers. Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt and director of football Paulo Angioni accompanied the coach during his visit to the CBF headquarters on Tuesday.
”He is a coach, he will reconcile the Fluminense during this whole period, as a coach of the Brazilian national team. As the coach of the Brazilian national team, we don’t consider him interim. He has a contract for 12 months. He will arrive and ensure the transition from the Brazilian national team to coach Ancelotti, who will take over at the Copa América,” said Ednaldo Rodrigues.
Work to be done
Fernando Diniz’s first task will be the opening of the South American World Cup qualifying tournament in September. During the September 4-12 international break, Brazil will host Bolivia (location TBD) and travel to Lima, Peru.
The coach will also be responsible for four other matches in 2023, all of them in the qualifiers: Venezuela (home) and Uruguay (away) in October, Argentina (home) and Colombia (away) in November. If Ancelotti does not leave Real Madrid in January, Diniz will remain as national team manager through the March 2024 international window, which will include two friendlies, one of which is already scheduled against Spain in Madrid.
