June 27 – Brazilian club Fluminense have dismissed their manager Fernando Diniz after a dramatic start to the season.
The manager, winner of the Campeonato Carioca, Copa Libertadores and the Recopa Sul-Americana, departs after the worst start to the Brasileirão in the club’s history with just a single win from 11 matches leaving Fluminense bottom of the table.
In a statement, the club said: “Diniz leaves a legacy not only because he won some of the most important titles in the history of our club in 2023 and 2024, but also because of very successful work in the first stage of his current reign, important lessons about his way of understanding football and a humanistic vision that altogether bring a huge 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.”
Last year, Diniz, who also held the Brazil national team coach role on an interim basis at the time, led the Rio club to their first-ever crown in the Copa Libertadores, the South American equivalent of the Champions League.
On home soil at the Maracana, Fluminense defeated Boca Juniors after extra time. That victory earned the Brazilian club a spot in the 2023 World Cup in Jeddah where they were outclassed in the final by European champions Manchester City.
In charge since 2022, Diniz however failed to rekindle some of the class of 2023 and Fluminense endured a torrid start to the Serie A. On Sunday, the club lost the cross-town derby against Flamengo, prompting the club hierarchy to take decisive action. The club said that assistant manager Marcao will take charge of the team against Vitoria on Thursday.
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