Corinthians names William Batista as interim for the classic against the.
Board officially names William Batista to lead the professional squad in Sunday's match
Following Fernando Diniz's dismissal, Corinthians officially named William Batista, the U20 category coach, as interim manager for the classic against Palmeiras. The choice comes as the board continues negotiations with names like Fábio Carille and Juan Pablo Vojvoda.
William Batista Takes Charge of the Professional Squad
On Thursday night, football executive Marcelo Paz informed William that he would coach the main team at CT Joaquim Grava. On Friday, the club decided that the U20 coach would lead Timão in the derby, with assistant Léo Porto serving as his aide.
William Batista's Profile and Career
At 33 years old, William Batista has been in charge of Corinthians' U20 team since 2025. Before joining the club, he worked in the youth academies of Guarani, Lemense, Chapecoense, América-MG, Vasco, and Red Bull Bragantino. At Vasco, he managed the main team on an interim basis for five matches, achieving two wins, one draw, and two losses. He also reached the semifinals of the 2022 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior with América-MG.
Decision Context: Brasileirão Crisis
Timão was experiencing a sequence of seven consecutive defeats in the Brazilian Championship, occupying 16th position with 32 points, just one point above the relegation zone. Pressure mounted after the loss to Internacional, which culminated in Diniz's departure.
Search for a Permanent Coach
Even with William leading in the classic, the board continues to sound out options. Recent negotiations with Ramón Díaz, Luis Zubeldía, and Sylvinho resulted in rejections. Other names mentioned include Jorge Sampaoli and Juan Pablo Vojvoda, although the latter is not considered suitable by the club's directors.
What to Expect from the Derby
The clash is scheduled for Sunday at 5:30 PM, at Nubank Parque. William's team will have Léo Porto on the bench, and the immediate goal is to avoid defeat against their direct rival, who is also vying for positions in the league table. The performance in the classic could influence the board's next decisions regarding Corinthians' future coach.
With information from ge, CNN Brasil.
Source: ge, CNN Brasil