From interim to Diniz’s right-hand, meet Corinthians’ new backroom team | OneFootball

Corinthians confirmed Fernando Diniz as head coach on Monday night, appointing Léo Porto as assistant and Wagner Bertelli as fitness coach.

ESPN reports that Bruno Lazaroni turned down an invitation to return as assistant for personal reasons.

Porto, from Santa Maria, played futsal before studying physical education in São Paulo. He began at Juventus-SP’s under-15s, joined Hélio dos Anjos at Fortaleza in 2013 as performance analyst and assistant, then worked under Dorival Júnior at Santos, later following him to São Paulo, Flamengo and Athletico Paranaense.

He returned to Fortaleza on 23 December 2020 as a permanent assistant. After Enderson Moreira’s exit in April 2021, he took interim charge and debuted with a 4-1 win over Caucaia in the Campeonato Cearense, reverting to assistant under Juan Pablo Vojvoda three days later. In May 2023 he took the under-20s, winning two state titles and delivering strong national campaigns, while also assisting the first team, before leaving in February 2026.

São Paulo-born Bertelli, 24 May 1965, started as a Corinthians fitness coach in 1986, staying until 1996 before moving to Atlético Mineiro. After spells in China and Iran, he returned in 2009 to work with Diniz at Votoraty and has been with him for more than 12 years.

Diniz has previously lauded Bertelli’s extensive CV in Brazil and abroad and rated him among the country’s best. Bertelli focuses on load management and high-intensity work to support Diniz’s possession-based, high-mobility model.

Source: Meu Timao