Libertadores-winning Corinthians defender begins coaching career

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Central do Timão

·28 Januari 2026

Libertadores-winning Corinthians defender begins coaching career

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

After ending his career in 2022, playing for Guarani, former defender Leandro Castán, who played for Corinthians from early 2010 to July 2012, began his coaching career. Last Monday (26), he was announced as the new coach of the Under-20 team of Real Soccer, founded in 2023 and competing in the Paulista Championship – Under-11 to 20.

At 39 years old, Leandro Castán completed the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) course, obtaining A and B coaching licenses. The former player had already planned to start his career as a coach leading a youth team. In an interview with ge.globo in November, he stated that he managed to disconnect from football for a while to enjoy family time, but gradually began to reconnect with the world of football.

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Photo: Daniel Augusto Jr/Agência Corinthians

“I didn't even try to do many other things. Those who know me personally know how much I love football, being on the field, being there. I say I like the chaos. I didn't even try to discover other things, I needed some time to clear my head, organize my ideas, and now I can return,” he said.

Wearing the Corinthians jersey, he played 111 matches (106 as a starter), with 56 wins, 32 draws, and 23 losses – a little over 60% success rate. Additionally, he scored three goals and provided one assist, winning two titles – the Brazilian Championship (2011) and the Conmebol Libertadores (2012). In these two achievements, he was a starter for the team then led by Tite.

Later, he was sold to Roma, Italy, in mid-2012. He stayed there until 2015/2016. Then, he had two loan spells to Sampdoria and Torino, still in Italian football, during the 2016/2017 season. Shortly after, he returned to Roma and was again loaned, this time to Cagliari, also in Italy, in 2017/2018.

Still in 2018, he returned to Brazilian football to play for Vasco, where he stayed until 2021. The following year, he transferred to Guarani, his last club in his career, where he played for one year. Before joining Corinthians in 2010, he played for Atlético-MG (where he was revealed), Helsingborgs (Sweden), and Grêmio Barueri.

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