Former Corinthians boss spotted at team's Libertadores clash | OneFootball

Corinthians are facing Argentina’s Platense on Thursday night (9) at Estádio Ciudad de Vicente López in the opening round of the 2026 Conmebol Libertadores group stage, and the match is currently tied 0-0. In Fernando Diniz’s debut as head coach, the Alvinegro are looking to return to winning ways this season after nine matches.

Besides the action on the pitch, there is also a special presence in the stands: Argentine coach Ramón Díaz, who managed the club from Parque São Jorge between mid-July 2024 and mid-April 2025, along with his assistant Osmar Ferreyra. At the time, the coach was hired to replace Antônio Oliveira, at a moment when the Corinthians team was sinking in the relegation zone.

Photo: Vinicius Lucio/Central do Timão

From the second half of the season onward, with the arrival of reinforcements from the mid-year transfer window, Corinthians reacted in the competition and, by the end of it, secured a place in the preliminary stage of the 2025 Conmebol Libertadores, finishing the national tournament in seventh place with 56 points. Months earlier, Timão had even been sitting second from bottom in the Brasileirão.

At the start of 2025, the team maintained its strong form and, under his command, won the Paulista Championship, beating archrivals Palmeiras in the final. On that occasion, Corinthians ended a six-year title drought. After the state title, the Alvinegro’s performances dropped off, having started last year’s Brasileirão and the Copa Sudamericana with negative results, which led to his dismissal, until Dorival Júnior was hired as his replacement and then dismissed last Sunday (5).

In charge of Corinthians, Ramón Díaz recorded 31 wins, 16 draws and 13 losses in 60 matches, with 91 goals scored and 60 conceded – a 61% success rate. Now, under Fernando Diniz, the Alvinegro are looking to get back on the winning track. After the match against Platense, Corinthians will turn their focus back to the Brazilian Championship. That is because next Sunday (12), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), the Alvinegro will face Palmeiras at Neo Química Arena in the 11th round of the national competition. Currently, the Alvinegro are the first team outside the relegation zone with 10 points – two wins, four draws and four losses – with eight goals scored and 11 conceded.

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