The Dutch coach Clarence Seedorf has been appointed as the new manager of Brazilian side Corinthians, the club announced. The 50-year-old Seedorf thus returns to the manager's bench after a seven-year break.
Seedorf last managed the Cameroon national team from August 2018 to July 2019. Previously, he had managed Milan, Chinese side Shenzhen FC, and Spanish side Deportivo La Coruña. He began his managerial career in 2014 at Milan.
"Accepting this challenge is a great honour, but also a responsibility. I am here to give my all and build a team that fights for every ball, every minute and every victory," Seedorf said. He signed a contract until the end of the 2027 season.
Corinthians are currently one point above the relegation zone in the Brazilian Serie A. The club sacked their previous manager, Fernando Diniz, on Wednesday. Club president Osvaldo de Oliveira said: "We are delighted to be able to count on a specialist of Seedorf's calibre. The decision was made based on the profile of work we envision for Corinthians and I am confident that he and his coaching staff will help us navigate this sensitive period in the Brazilian championship."
Seedorf was one of the best midfielders of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He won four Champions League titles with Ajax, Real Madrid and twice with Milan. He represented the Netherlands at the 1998 World Cup, where his team finished fourth, losing to Croatia in the bronze medal match. He also participated in three European Championships. His last club before retiring was Brazilian side Botafogo from Rio de Janeiro, for whom he played from 2012 to 2013.
Corinthians are one of the most successful and popular Brazilian clubs, having won seven national titles, four Copa do Brasil trophies, two Supercopa do Brasil titles and a record 31 state championship titles. In international competitions, they won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2000, repeating the feat in 2012 after being crowned champions of the Copa Libertadores that same year.
