Autuori confirmed as Sao Paulo coach

Rio de Janeiro, July 12 (IANS): Paulo Autuori has been appointed as the new coach of Brazilian football club Sao Paulo.

The announcement on Thursday comes two days after the 56-year-old quit as coach of Rio de Janeiro outfit Vasco da Gama over delayed salary payments, reports Xinhua.

Autuori replaces Ney Franco, who was sacked by the club last week following a poor start to Brazil’s Serie A season.

It will be Autuori’s second spell in charge of the Tricolor after he led the side to the Copa Libertadores-FIFA Club World Cup double in 2005.

“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Paulo back to Morumbi,” Sao Paulo’s football director Adalberto Baptista said in a statement on the club’s website. “He is a winner and I hope his stay will be a long one.”

Autuori said he was ready for the challenge of helping Sao Paulo win this year’s league title.

“I hope that I can contribute like I did the last time,” Autuori said. “Any coach would be proud to come back to manage a great club like this.”