Corinthians make changes to youth development after Copinha

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Central do Timão

·23 January 2026

Corinthians make changes to youth development after Copinha

By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians announced, on the afternoon of this Friday (23), changes in its youth categories structure. The changes involve the dismissal of two professionals in the Athlete Development Department and will be effective for the remainder of the 2026 season.

According to the club's official communication, the assistant coach of the Under-20 team, former defender Nenê, and the youth market coordinator Ricardo Oliveira are no longer part of the professional staff in the sector. Both had their contracts terminated and will not continue working in the Timão's youth system.

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Photo: Rodrigo Coca / Corinthians Agency

The decisions come amid an internal reassessment process following Corinthians' participation in the São Paulo Junior Football Cup. Despite being the most successful team in the history of the competition, the alvinegro team was eliminated early in this edition, being defeated by Guarani in the second phase of the tournament.

In a statement, the club officially confirmed the changes in the youth system: “The Athlete Development Department of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista informs that the assistant coach of the Under-20 team, former defender Nenê; and the market coordinator Ricardo Oliveira will not continue in their positions for the remainder of the season.”

Nenê joined the Under-20 coaching staff in 2024, initially as an assistant to Orlando Ribeiro. Later, he remained in the role when William Batista took over the team. In both coaching staffs, he played a secondary role in the technical day-to-day.

On two occasions, however, the former defender temporarily took charge of the Under-20 team after Orlando Ribeiro's departure. In these instances, he led Timãozinho in the 3-0 defeat against Palmeiras and the 1-0 loss to Santo André.

Ricardo Oliveira was hired in 2024 to work in the market coordination of the youth categories, a role responsible for mapping, evaluating, and negotiating athletes from Under-15 to Under-20. His arrival occurred during Claudinei Alves' management, a period in which the sector experienced a large volume of signings. Throughout this cycle, the department participated in the formalization of dozens of contracts with athletes from the Under-17 and Under-20 categories.

So far, Corinthians has not released information about possible replacements for the positions left by the dismissed professionals, nor if further changes in the youth structure are expected in the coming days.

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