The 2021 season was the 112th season in the history of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. The season covered the period from 26 February 2021 to December 2021. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its major impact in the 2020 season were still felt on this season, as there was no pre-season and the first game took place just three days after the last season's match. The majority of games were still played behind closed doors.
Home (June 2021 onward): White shirt, black shorts and white socks;
Away (May 2021 onward): Black with white stripes shirt, white shorts and black socks;
Third (September 2021 onward): Purple shirt, purple shorts and purple socks.
Previous Kits
Home (Until June 2021): White shirt, black shorts and white socks;
Away (Until May 2021): Black with white stripes shirt, white shorts and black socks;
Third (Until September 2021): Brown and blue shirt, brown shorts and brown socks.
COVID-19 pandemic
On October 5, Corinthians played their first match with fans in the stadium since February 25, 2020, as Neo Química Arena featured a 30% stadium capacity.[1] Matches are expected to feature a 50% stadium capacity as of October 15 and full capacity in November.[2]
Squad
As of 1 December 2021
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
On May 16, Vágner Mancini was fired after losing the 2021 Campeonato Paulista semi-finals to Palmeiras at Neo Química Arena.[3] The club decided that three club professionals would take over training duties while a new manager was expected to be chosen: head of performance analysis Fernando Lázaro, fitness coach Flávio de Oliveira and head scout Mauro da Silva.[4] Lázaro served as caretaker for the last two matches at the 2021 Copa Sudamericana against Sport Huancayo and River Plate.
On May 23, former club player Sylvinho was announced as the club's new manager until December 2022. He is expected to make his debut at the first match of the 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.[5][6]
For the 2021 Campeonato Paulista, the 16 teams are divided in four groups of 4 teams (A, B, C, D). They faced all teams, except those that were in their own group, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals. The two overall worst teams were relegated.[74]
Note: The match was originally expected to take place on 22 March, but was anticipated a day due to broadcast requests.[76] It was then indefinitely postponed on March 18 due to São Paulo's government lockdown measures.[77] The FPF announced on March 22 that the game was rescheduled for the following day.[75] It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 18 April, but it was anticipated by FPF on 9 April.[78] It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 4 April, but it was indefinitely postponed on 26 March due to São Paulo's government lockdown measures.[79] FPF rescheduled the game on 9 April.[78] It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 28 March, but it was indefinitely postponed on 22 March due to São Paulo's government lockdown measures.[80] FPF rescheduled the game on 9 April.[78] It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 24 March, but it was indefinitely postponed on 22 March due to São Paulo's government lockdown measures.[80] FPF rescheduled the game on 13 April.[81] It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Stadium: Vila Belmiro Attendance: 0 Referee: Salim Fende Chaves
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 31 March, but it was indefinitely postponed on 26 March due to São Paulo's government lockdown measures.[79] FPF rescheduled the game on 14 April.[82] It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 11 April, but it was indefinitely postponed on 26 March due to São Paulo's government lockdown measures.[79] FPF rescheduled the game on 14 April.[82] It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 25 April, but it was rescheduled by FPF on 14 April due to the previous adjustments.[82] It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Note: This match was originally scheduled to take place on 7 July, but it was postponed due to broadcast requests. It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Stadium: Vila Belmiro Attendance: 0 Referee: Flávio Rodrigues de Souza
Note: This match was originally scheduled to take place on 7 August, but it was postponed due to broadcast requests.[86] It was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.
Stadium: Neo Química Arena Attendance: 39,897 Referee: Paulo César Zanovelli
Note: This match was originally scheduled to take place on 31 October, but it was postponed due to a Corinthians request, as it would be the first match with a full stadium capacity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.[88]
^André Luis was transferred to Korean club Daejeon Hana Citizen in June 2020 after originally being loaned. They were not able to fulfill the original deal and Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua opted to take the debt as means to sign the player and loaned him back to Daejeon until the end of 2020. After Shanghai didn't honor the payment as well, Corinthians requested André's return and filled a indemnity action within FIFA.[7]