Leao takes over Palmeiras amid coaching mayhem

Former Brazil coach Emerson Leao took over at Palmeiras while Goias and Vasco da Gama also named new coaches.

The new appointments came after a weekend that claimed four coaching victims in the Brazilian championship, taking the total to 13 in only 12 rounds of matches.

Leao, Brazil's keeper in the 1974 and 1978 World Cups and their coach for eight months in 2000-01, was presented as the latest Palmeiras coach on Monday evening after replacing Paulo Bonamigo, who resigned less than 24 hours earlier.

Bonamigo left after 16 games at the former champions, who are 16th, as fans insulted him during the 2-1 home defeat by Fortaleza.

Goias, who are 12th in the 22-team table, announced on their website that Edson Gaucho had been fired following Saturday's 3-1 home defeat by Brasiliense and named Geninho as his replacement.

Renato Portaluppi took over at Vasco, succeeding Dario Lourenco who resigned after Sunday's 1-0 defeat by arch-rivals Flamengo left the team second from bottom.

Paysandu, 18th in the table, named Sinomar Neves on an interim basis to replace Campos, who walked out after angry fans attempted to break into the changing rooms.

Portaluppi's appointment as Vasco coach was interpreted as good news for 39-year-old former Brazil international Romario, who had been at loggerheads with Lourenco.

Portaluppi has already coached the 1994 World Cup-winning striker at Fluminense where Romario enjoyed a number of much-publicised privileges.