Célio Silva backs Fernando Diniz and reflects on Corinthians youth pathway | OneFootball

Former Corinthians defender Célio Silva has praised Fernando Diniz’s approach and highlighted its influence on player development, recalling their time together at the club in the late 1990s.

"I was fortunate to work with Diniz at Corinthians and to face him when he was at Juventus. He began this project back at Votoraty and, if I recall correctly, won the Copa Paulista twice. He did interesting work at Audax, believed in a project and today almost everyone plays that way. It tests the defence and demands personality, modern football asks for it, so players must adapt, even in the academy," said Célio Silva. He spoke to Resenha do Lounge.

Célio lined up for Corinthians from 1994 to 1998 and teamed up with Diniz at the end of that spell. Together they won the 1997 Campeonato Paulista and featured in 22 matches between 1997 and 1998, with 10 wins, five draws and seven defeats.

Across 157 games for the club he also lifted the 1995 Copa do Brasil and Campeonato Paulista, plus the 1996 Troféu Ramón de Carranza. Renowned for his powerful long‑range strike, he scored 19 goals and earned the nickname "Canhão do Parque".

He left for Goiás in 1998, then returned in 2017 to coach the youth ranks, working with Felipe Longo, Guilherme Biro, Léo Maná and Wesley. Back again from 2022, he scouts and now assists in the academy on individual development from Under-12 down to Under-six.

"I believe the player must develop the club’s profile. Results matter, but you cannot lose the essence of how Corinthians were born and how supporters expect the team to play," he added.

Beyond Corinthians, Célio Silva represented Americano, Vasco, Internacional, Goiás, Flamengo, Universidad Católica in Chile and Caen in France, and he was capped by Brazil between 1992 and 1997.

Source: Meu Timao

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