Deportivo placed third overall in
La Liga finishing only below champions
Real Madrid and runners-up
Barcelona. Former Deportivo President Augusto César Lendoiro reached an agreement with
Palmeiras for $7 million to acquire
Rivaldo before the
1996 Olympic Games, instead of buying midfielder
Amaral. On 10 February 1997 after the team was eliminated in
Copa del Rey round of 16, Lendoiro fired
John Toshack due to his interactions with club officials, players and fans. The Welsh manager was replaced by the Palmeiras coach
Carlos Alberto Silva. On 9 September 1996, Deportivo signed Brazilian midfielder
Flávio Conceição from Palmeiras. ==Squad==