Corinthians boss shines in Libertadores unbeaten managers ranking | OneFootball

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Staff

On Wednesday night (6), Corinthians faced Santa Fe of Colombia at El Campín Stadium in a match valid for the fourth round of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores group stage, and drew 1-1. Center-back Gustavo Henrique scored for the Alvinegro side late in the second half. The result took Timão to 10 points, putting them at the top of Group E — three wins and one draw — with seven goals scored and one conceded.

The draw also made Fernando Diniz the sole holder of the longest unbeaten run among Brazilian club coaches in Libertadores history — 18 matches. The streak also includes his spell at Fluminense in 2023 and 2024. Of that total, 14 games were with the Rio club and four with the Parque São Jorge side.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

The statistic was published by Superscore Brasil. The coach’s last defeat in the international competition came in 2023 when, still in the Libertadores group stage, he was managing Fluminense and lost to River Plate of Argentina at the Monumental de Núñez Stadium. After that defeat, the Rio side then put together an eight-game unbeaten run and were crowned champions of the tournament that year, beating Boca Juniors of Argentina at the Maracanã.

Previously, the longest unbeaten run belonged to Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira, who, in charge of Palmeiras, went 17 matches without losing between 2023 and 2024 in the international tournament. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the Alviverde reached an 18-match unbeaten run in the Libertadores, but he missed two matches (Deportivo Táchira-VEN and Independiente Petrolero-BOL), which leaves the count at 16 games.

Corinthians will return to the pitch in the Libertadores on May 21, a Sunday, at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), to face Peñarol of Uruguay away from home in the fifth round of the Conmebol Libertadores group stage. Before that, however, Timão will host São Paulo at Neo Química Arena this Sunday (10) at 6:30 p.m. (Brasília time) in the 15th round of the Brasileirão. Currently, the Parque São Jorge club is the first team inside the relegation zone with 15 points — three wins, six draws and five losses — 10 goals scored and 13 conceded.

Longest unbeaten runs by coaches of Brazilian teams in Libertadores history (1960-1926):

1. Fernando Diniz — 18 matches — Fluminense and Corinthians (2023-2026) 2. Abel Ferreira — 17 matches — Palmeiras (2023–2024) 3. Tite — 16 matches — Corinthians (2012–2013); 4. Abel Ferreira — 16 matches — Palmeiras (2021–2022) 5. Rogério Ceni — 15 matches — (8) and Bahia (7) (2020–2025) 6. Felipão — 14 matches — Palmeiras (2000–2018); Luis Zubeldía — 14 matches — São Paulo (2024–2025) 7. Antônio Lopes — 13 matches — Vasco (1998–1999) 8. Vanderlei Luxemburgo — 12 matches — Santos (2007); Cuca — 12 matches — Atlético-MG (2021–2022)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.