Jun 24, 2024, 9:30 p.m. ET
Fernando Diniz is no longer the technical director of Fluminense: The current champion coach of the CONMEBOL Libertadores and the CONMEBOL Recopa was fired the day after the loss in the classic against Flamengo.
In charge of the Rio team since April 30, 2022Diniz also had a period as Brazil coach last season, but he did not obtain good results, unlike what happened to him with the Tricolor.
The Libertadores 2023 was not only the greatest achievement in the 50-year-old coach’s career, but it was a first-ever title for the club.
In the Flu, Diniz also lifted two regional trophies, the Taca Guanabara and the 2023 Carioca Championship, being elected Best Coach in South America that year. In total, there were 188 games, with a balance of 91 wins, 41 draws and 56 losses (effectiveness of 55.67%).
But this year the story is different, and Fluminense is bottom of the Brasileirao, with 6 points in 11 dates, adding just one victory. The defeat in the Flu Fla derby – he was even sent off at the end of the match -, also the fourth consecutive loss of the season, was the end for Diniz.
In the Libertadores, Flu, defending champions, led Group A with 14 points, ahead of Colo Colo, Cerro Porteño and Alianza Lima, and will face Gremio in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals they would meet the winner of Atlético Mineiro vs. San Lorenzo.
The assistent Marcão He will be in charge of the next training sessions and will be the coach in the match against Vitória next Thursday at the Maracaná.
One of the footballers who expressed themselves on social networks after the news was Marcelo, who had important words of praise: ”Master, thank you very much for your teachings, you made me see football in a different way. I am very happy to have worked with you before I stopped playing football. We experienced incredible things and I gained a friend for LIFE.”
The particular thing about the decision to fire Diniz is that the leadership He had renewed his contract until the end of 2025 just 33 days before. For this reason, he must pay him 1.23 million dollars.
The Fluminense statement
Coach Fernando Diniz left command of Fluminense FC this Monday.
Diniz leaves as a legacy of his time not only some of the most important titles in the history of our club, won in 2023 and 2024, but also the legacy of a very successful work in the first stage of his current time, important lessons about his way of understanding football and a humanistic vision that together make an enormous contribution to this sport.
Fluminense, on behalf of its president, its board of directors and its employees, thanks Diniz and wishes him much success in his career, always.
Second coach Marcão will lead the team in this Thursday’s match against Vitória, at the Maracaná.
Fluminense needs all the support of the fans. This is a moment that requires everyone to unite around the greater goal of getting back on the path to victory.
