Clarence Seedorf is heading back to the touchline, with Corinthians turning to the former Netherlands midfielder as they seek to lift a troubled Brazilian season out of the shadows.
Key takeaways
- Seedorf has signed a contract with Corinthians running until the end of 2027.
- He takes charge of a side sitting 16th in the Brazilian league standings.
- The 50-year-old will work with fellow Dutchman Memphis Depay at the São Paulo club.
- Seedorf is expected to travel to Brazil with his coaching team in the coming days.
- He is unlikely to be in the dugout for Sunday’s match against Palmeiras, scheduled for 22:30.
A major name for a difficult assignment
Corinthians have appointed Seedorf as first-team coach in a move that brings one of European football’s most decorated former midfielders into a relegation-area battle.
“Taking on this challenge is an honour, but it is also an enormous responsibility,” Seedorf said after his appointment. “I am here to give everything and to build a team ready to fight for every ball, every minute and every win.”
His arrival offers a new chapter for Memphis Depay, who will now be coached by a countryman as Corinthians attempt to move clear of 16th place. Seedorf will not be expected on the sideline for the Palmeiras fixture while final arrangements are completed for his arrival.
Familiar ground, limited coaching record
Seedorf knows Brazilian football from his playing days. He concluded his career at Botafogo, representing the Rio de Janeiro club between 2012 and 2014.
His managerial background is comparatively brief. The former AC Milan player has previously coached AC Milan, Shenzhen in 2016, Deportivo La Coruña in 2018, and the Cameroon national team from 2018 to 2019.
Now contracted through the end of 2027, Seedorf faces an immediate test: turning his experience and stature into points for a Corinthians side that needs results quickly.
