In a significant move for the club, Vasco da Gama has officially announced the hiring of Fernando Diniz as their new head coach. The announcement was made on May 9, 2025, following 11 days of negotiations, culminating in a contract that will keep Diniz at the club until December 2026. This marks Diniz's return to São Januário after a four-year absence, having previously managed the team in 2021.
The decision to bring Diniz back comes at a crucial time for Vasco, particularly after their disappointing 4-1 defeat to Puerto Cabello in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana. The team has struggled recently, going seven matches without a win across all competitions, which heightened the urgency for a coaching change. Diniz's appointment is seen as a long-term strategy to stabilize the club's direction.
Vasco's president, Pedrinho, has been a long-time admirer of Diniz's coaching style and had identified him as the preferred candidate even before the dismissal of former coach Fábio Carille on April 27, 2025. The negotiations faced some hurdles, primarily financial, but the board managed to bridge the gap between their initial salary offer and Diniz's expectations, eventually finalizing the deal.
As part of his coaching staff, Diniz will bring along physical trainer Wagner Bertelli, who has worked with him for many years, as well as new assistants Ricardo Cobalchini and Evandro Fornari. Cobalchini previously served as an assistant to Abel Braga, while Fornari worked alongside Tiago Nunes. This new staff configuration is expected to inject fresh energy and strategies into the team.
Fernando Diniz has been out of work since January 27, 2025, when he was released from his position at Cruzeiro after a brief four-month tenure. Prior to that, he enjoyed considerable success at Fluminense, where he led the team to victory in the 2023 Copa Libertadores, the 2024 Recopa Sudamericana, and the 2023 Campeonato Carioca. His experience also includes a stint managing the Brazilian national team in the latter half of 2023.
During his first time at Vasco in 2021, Diniz faced challenges and was unable to secure promotion back to Serie A, leading to a mixed record of 4 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses over 12 matches, resulting in a 41.6% success rate. Despite this, his return is seen as a chance to build a more stable and successful future for the club.
As Vasco prepares for their upcoming matches, Diniz will not debut on May 10, 2025, against Vitória in the Série A of the Campeonato Brasileiro. Instead, his first game in charge will be against Lanús in Argentina on May 13, 2025, at 21:30 (Brasília time), a critical match in the Copa Sudamericana where Vasco needs a victory to reach eight points and compete for the top spot in Group G.
The upcoming fixtures for Vasco include:
- Against Vitória (Away) on May 10, 2025, at 18:30 (Brasília time) - Campeonato Brasileiro
- Against Lanús (Away) on May 13, 2025, at 21:30 (Brasília time) - Copa Sudamericana
- Against Fortaleza (Home) on May 17, 2025, at 18:30 (Brasília time) - Campeonato Brasileiro
The club's management is optimistic that Diniz's leadership will turn the tide for Vasco and lead them back to a competitive position in both domestic and international tournaments. With a long-term vision in mind, Diniz's appointment could be a pivotal moment in Vasco's quest for success.
