The 2020 season was the 111th season in the history of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. The season was largerly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as it had a major pause between March and July, and the majority of games were played behind closed doors. It covered the period from January 2020 to 25 February 2021.

Background

Kits Home (July 2020 onward): White shirt, black shorts and white socks; Away (July 2020 onward): Black with white stripes shirt, white shorts and black socks; Third (October 2020 onward): Brown and blue shirt, brown shorts and brown socks.

Previous Kits Home (Until June 2020): White shirt with black stripes, black shorts and white socks; Away (Until July 2020): Black shirt, white shorts and black socks; Third (Until September 2020): Black and white shirt, black shorts and black socks.

COVID-19 pandemic On 25 February 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Brazil. No decision was made regarding sports events at first, but after the disease started spreading quickly, it was announced on March 13 that some of the 2020 Campeonato Paulista matches would take place behind closed doors. Eventually on March 16, after the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol had decided to postpone their tournaments indefinitely, the Federação Paulista de Futebol also decided to suspend the Campeonato Paulista for the time being.

It was announced on 26 March that the clubs decided to grant 20 days of vacation from 1 April until 20 April for their players. That period was extended for another 10 days on April 15. Corinthians announced on 30 April that 25% of the players' salary and 70% of the staff's salary would be reduced amid the pandemic. On 23 June, the club made a return to non-contact training, with social distancing rules still in place, while a full-return only began on 1 July. During return tests, 24 players tested positive (13 of them already recovered) and 34 people from the staff as well (with 29 of them recovered).

On 8 July, it was announced that the Campeonato Paulista would return on 22 July, while the 2020 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A would begin on 8 August. The season is now expected to end on 24 February 2021.

Arena Corinthians' naming rights On 1 September (Corinthians' 110th anniversary), a special event live from the stadium was held to announce the Arena's new name. It was officially renamed Neo Química Arena, part of a 20-year partnership with Hypera Pharma, Brazil's largest pharmaceutical company. Neo Química is Hypera's generic drugs division, which already served as Corinthians' main sponsor during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. The full contract is expected to be around R$300–320 million.

Presidential election On 28 November, the election to decide Corinthians' new president for the 2021–2023 term was held featuring only associates of the social club, meaning that less than three thousand people would decide the winner. Duílio Monteiro Alves (who was Sanchez's football director until September) defeated former president Mário Gobbi Filho and August Melo with only 1081 votes (38 percent of the total).

Duílio assumed office on 4 January 2021, bringing back former president Roberto de Andrade as the new football director and Alessandro Nunes (captain of the 2012 Copa Libertadores and 2012 FIFA Club World Cup titles) as football manager.

Sponsorship On January 23, 2021, Corinthians announced that Banco BMG would not remain as the main sponsor, but rather move to a different spot in the uniform. Two days later, it was announced that Neo Química will be the new main sponsor for the next five seasons.

Squad

Managerial changes On September 11, 2020, Tiago Nunes was fired after losing a home match a day earlier to Palmeiras. Despite being hired on November 7, 2019, he only took charge at the beginning of this season. The club announced that Dyego Coelho, former player and current U20 manager, would take over as caretaker.

On October 12, 2020, Coelho was removed from his interim position and Corinthians announced Vágner Mancini, who was then-Atlético Goianiense manager, as their new head coach.

Manager Signed fromDate of signingDate of departureSigned withSource Tiago Nunes Athletico Paranaense7 November 201911 September 2020 — Dyego CoelhoCorinthians U20 head coach (interim)11 September 202011 October 2020 — Vágner Mancini Atlético Goianiense12 October 2020 — —

Transfers

Transfers in #Position:PlayerTransferred fromFeeDateTeamSource7 Luan Grêmio€5,000,000 First team18 Matheus Jesus EstorilUndisclosed First team33 Matheus Davó GuaraniUndisclosedFirst team15 Éderson CruzeiroFree transfer First team77 Jô Nagoya GrampusFree transfer First team18 Léo Natel São PauloFree transfer First team10 Juan Cazares Atlético MineiroFree transfer First team Reginaldo ABCUndisclosedAcademy26 Fábio Santos Atlético MineiroFree transfer First team Diogo VitorFree agentFree transferUnder-23s3 Jemerson MonacoUndisclosed First team28 Jonathan Cafú BordeauxFree transfer First team

Loans in #Position Player Loaned fromDate Loan expires TeamSource Jorge Colmán Olimpia4 January 202031 December 2020Under-23s16 Sidcley Dynamo Kyiv8 January 202031 December 2020First team24 Víctor Cantillo Atlético Junior9 January 202030 June 2021 First team11 Yony González Benfica11 February 202031 August 2020 First team11 Rómulo Otero Atlético Mineiro24 August 202030 June 2021First team

Transfers out

#Position Player Transferred toFee Date TeamSource Vinicius Del'Amore VotuporanguenseFree transfer First team Léo Príncipe CRBFree transfer First team11 Júnior Urso Orlando CityUndisclosed First team Paulo Roberto MirassolFree transfer First team Gabriel Vasconcelos York9Free transfer First team Giovanni Augusto CoritibaFree transfer First team Marlone Suwon FCFree transfer First team Fellipe Bastos Vasco da GamaFree transfer First team GuilhermeFree agentEnd of contractFirst team Rodrigo FigueiredoFree agentEnd of contractFirst team25 Clayson BahiaR$4,000,000First team RalfFree agentRescinded contractFirst team JádsonFree agentRescinded contractFirst team10 Pedrinho Benfica€18,000,000 First team Rael OesteFree transfer Academy Guilherme Romão Botafogo (SP)End of contractFirst team9 Vágner Love KairatFree transfer First team André Luis Daejeon Hana CitizenU$2,200,000 First team Lucca Al-KhorFree transfer First team34 Pedro Henrique Athletico Paranaense€1,000,000 First team Gustavo Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsU$2,500,000 First team30 Carlos Augusto Monza€4,000,000 First team Guilherme Mantuan Gil VicenteFree transfer First team Jean MarítimoFree transfer First team Maxwell Sport RecifeFree transfer Under-23s17 Mauro Boselli Cerro PorteñoFree transfer First team Renê JúniorFree agentFree transfer First team CarlinhosFree agentFree transfer First team MarcielFree agentFree transfer First team Luidy CRBFree transfer First team Diogo VitorFree agentFree transfer Under-23s

Loans out #Position Player Loaned toDate Loan expires TeamSource João Victor Inter de Limeira18 November 201930 April 2020Academy Rafael Bilú CSA13 December 201931 January 2021First team Fessin Bahia16 December 201928 February 2021Academy Guilherme Romão Botafogo (SP)17 December 201918 April 2020First team1 Caíque França Oeste17 December 201931 January 2021First team Rafinha Penapolense17 December 201930 April 2020Academy Carlinhos Marcílio Dias18 December 201930 April 2020First team Matheus Alexandre Ponte Preta19 December 201931 December 2020First team Rael Oeste20 December 20191 April 2020Academy Marciel Juventude26 December 201931 December 2020First team Thiaguinho Botafogo27 December 201931 December 2020 First team Lucca Al-Khor29 December 201931 July 2020 First team Marquinhos Sport Recife1 January 202028 February 2021First team18 Matheus Jesus Red Bull Bragantino3 January 202028 February 2021 First team Igor Formiga Coimbra3 January 202030 April 2020Academy Guilherme Mantuan Oeste6 January 202031 December 2020 First team Fabrício Oya Oeste6 January 202031 December 2020First team Gustavo Silva Paraná6 January 202031 December 2020 First team Luidy CRB6 January 202031 December 2020First team Matheus Matias Oeste6 January 202031 December 2020 First team7 Junior Sornoza LDU Quito6 January 202031 December 2020First team Caetano Coritiba7 January 202031 December 2020 First team8 Renê Júnior Coritiba8 January 202031 December 2020 First team André Luis Daejeon Hana Citizen19 January 202031 December 2020 First team Jean Vitória22 January 202031 December 2020 First team19 Gustavo Internacional18 February 202031 December 2020 First team29 Madson Fortaleza19 February 202031 December 2020 First team40 Filipe Paraná20 February 202031 January 2021First team Hugo Borges Jorge Wilstermann1 March 202030 June 2020Under-23s13 Marllon Cruzeiro6 March 202031 December 2020 First team Thiaguinho CRB17 March 202020 November 2020First team João Victor Atlético Goianiense27 June 202028 February 2021Academy Raul Gustavo Inter de Limeira8 July 202031 December 2020 Academy Carlinhos Atibaia9 July 202031 December 2020First team Caetano Oeste16 July 202031 January 2021First team25 Richard Athletico Paranaense20 July 202031 December 2021First team Rafinha Oeste22 July 202031 December 2020 Academy Matheus Matias São Bernardo23 July 202023 October 2020First team Nathan Racing de Ferrol10 August 202030 June 2021Under-23s31 Janderson Atlético Goianiense19 August 202028 February 2021First team Madson Oeste8 September 202031 January 2021First team Matheus Matias Paraná23 October 202031 January 2021First team Junior Sornoza Tijuana5 January 202131 December 2021First team

Squad statistics No.Pos.NameCampeonato PaulistaCopa LibertadoresCampeonato BrasileiroCopa do BrasilTotalDisciplineAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals2DF Michel Macedo1 (2)0005 (2)0006 (4)0103DF Jemerson0000700070004DF Gil1522036220554705MF Gabriel9 (2)00024 (4)20 (1)033 (7)2916DF Lucas Piton6 (2)00 (2)015 (5)02023 (9)0207FW Luan15 (1)22111 (11)20 (2)028 (14)5308MF Ramiro910020 (11)12031 (11)21009FW Vágner Love3 (3)11000004 (3)11010MF Pedrinho1 (2)01000002 (2)02110MF Juan Cazares000010 (10)22012 (10)21011FW Yony González40000000401011MF Rómulo Otero000018 (6)20018 (6)28112GK Cássio15020350205404113DF Léo Santos00000000000014DF Bruno Méndez1 (1)00014 (2)00015 (3)04115MF Éderson4 (3)3008 (8)02014 (11)31016DF Sidcley2 (5)0205 (4)00 (1)09 (10)00017FW Mauro Boselli10 (1)5211 (7)00 (1)013 (9)60017FW Cauê00000000000018FW Léo Natel0 (2)00014 (17)40 (2)014 (21)43019FW Gustavo1 (1)00 (1)000001 (2)00019FW Gustavo Silva000016 (11)50016 (11)51020MF Camacho9 (1)0204 (16)00015 (17)08121MF Ángelo Araos0 (6)00012 (3)10012 (9)13022MF Mateus Vital5 (6)00 (1)014 (11)42021 (18)45023DF Fagner15 (1)0203222151 (1)310124MF Víctor Cantillo7 (3)02021 (4)00 (2)030 (9)09025MF Richard30000000301025DF Marllon00007 (4)0209 (4)01126DF Fábio Santos0000203002033027GK Walter10003 (1)0004 (1)02028FW Jonathan Cafú00001 (2)0001 (2)00029FW Madson1 (1)00 (1)000001 (2)00029MF Roni00007 (2)1007 (2)14030DF Carlos Augusto80000000801031MF Janderson5 (5)11 (1)00 (1)0006 (7)12131MF Gustavo Mantuan00003 (4)1003 (4)10032GK Matheus Donelli00000000000033FW Matheus Davó0 (2)00042105 (2)21034DF Pedro Henrique1002000001200034DF Raul Gustavo00000 (1)0000 (1)00035DF Danilo Avelar6100132001937136MF Ruan00001 (3)0001 (3)00037FW Everaldo6 (5)1104 (9)21 (1)012 (15)35038MF Gabriel Pereira00000 (10)0000 (10)02039MF Xavier00009 (9)02011 (9)05040GK Guilherme Castellani00000000000077FW Jô420024 (6)60028 (6)821

Overview

Pre-season and friendlies Florida Cup

Campeonato Paulista

For the 2020 Campeonato Paulista, the 16 teams were divided in four groups of 4 teams (A, B, C, D). They faced all teams, except those that are in their own group, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quarterfinals. The two overall worst teams were relegated. The tournament returned to a previous format in which the quarter-finals and semi-finals were held in one-match playoffs.

First stage

Knockout stages

Copa Libertadores