Two more coaches bite the dust in Brazil

Brazil’s coaching merry-go-round claimed two more victims on Monday when Cruzeiro fired Paulo Cesar Gusmao and Antonio Lopes resigned at Goias.

The duo followed Geninho, who at the weekend became the third coach this year to leave champions Corinthians.

There have been 29 coaching changes in the First Division since the season began in January.

Gusmao had been at Cruzeiro for more than a year, an eternity in the volatile world of Brazilian coaching. He was dismissed after going five matches without a win.

The final straw was Sunday’s 3-2 home defeat by Fluminense, who sacked coach Oswaldo Oliveira a week ago.

“There’s an old saying in football which always prevails, the coach lives by results,” Cruzeiro president Alvimar de Oliveira Costa told the club’s official website.

“PC’s done a great job, showing confidence in our young players.”

Goias told their website that former police detective Lopes handed in his resignation after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Sao Paulo.

Sao Paulo fielded a reserve team as they rested players ahead of today’s Libertadores Cup final second leg at Internacional.

It was Goias’ seventh game without a win.

“The group is good, the directors are correct, but the atmosphere’s not right after such a poor campaign,” said Lopes, who took over in May when Geninho left for Corinthians.

Lopes began the year at Corinthians before resigning in March. – Reuters