Dorival Júnior

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

A defensive midfielder, Júnior notably played for Palmeiras. After retiring, he began his coaching career in 2002 with Ferroviária, but only gained national notoriety in 2010 when coaching Neymar's Santos. He later led Flamengo to a 2022 Copa Libertadores win and São Paulo to their first-ever Copa do Brasil title in 2023, before being named head coach of the Brazil national team in January 2024. He was sacked from the Brazil role in March 2025, and later coached Corinthians from April 2025 to April 2026, winning the 2025 Copa do Brasil and the 2026 Supercopa do Brasil before being fired. He returned to São Paulo for a third spell in May 2026.

In Their Own Story

The turning point of Dorival Júnior's first era at Corinthians came in September 2015. The team had been languishing in the relegation zone when he arrived in July. By November, the atmosphere at Arena Corinthians had shifted from despair to anticipation. In the Copa do Brasil campaign, his tactical adjustments turned a struggling side into finalists capable of challenging Brazil's elite. The emotional weight of the final was palpable, even though they fell short of the trophy. Years later, in April 2025, the narrative flipped entirely. Júnior returned to lead the club to its fourth Copa do Brasil title. The journey culminated in a decisive victory over Vasco da Gama in the finals, a moment of redemption for both coach and club. Just months prior, he had guided them past Flamengo to claim the 2026 Supercopa do Brasil. Yet, football's volatility struck again; following an eight-match winless streak that began early in 2026, his time at the helm concluded abruptly on April 5, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of two major trophies and a club saved from oblivion.

Reader's Guide

Dorival Júnior is a veteran Brazilian coach known for multiple stints at top clubs. His career highlights include winning the Copa do Brasil with Santos (2010), Flamengo (2022), São Paulo (2023), and Corinthians (2025), as well as the 2022 Copa Libertadores with Flamengo. He also managed the Brazil national team from January 2024 to March 2025.

Did You Know?

• Júnior is the nephew of former Brazilian player Dudu.
• His son, Lucas Silvestre, has been his assistant since 2010.
• He led Santos to a historic 10–0 win over Naviraiense in the 2010 Copa do Brasil.
• He was the first coach to lead a club to six straight wins in the Copa Sudamericana group stage (with Ceará in 2022).