RIO DE JANEIRO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Vasco da Gama announced the resignation of coach Ze Ricardo on Saturday after the club's 2-1 loss to Botafogo in Brazil's Serie A championship.
The result at Vasco's Sao Januario stadium left the Rio de Janeiro side 12th in the 20-team standings with 11 points from eight matches.
"We tried to change his mind. We weren't expecting it," the club's executive director Paulo Pelaipe told reporters. "But his decision was already made. He is no longer the coach of the club. We've lost a great a manager."
Ricardo guided Vasco to 22 wins, 13 draws and 15 defeats after replacing Milton Mendes last August.
In other Serie A matches on Saturday, Atletico Mineiro were held to a 3-3 home draw by Chapecoense, Internacional and Sport Recife drew 0-0 in Porto Alegre and Palmeiras won 3-1 at home to Sao Paulo.
