Rio de Janeiro´s Botafogo Soccer Club Sack Manager Barroca After Relegation

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Assistant coach Lucio Flavio will take charge of the Rio de Janeiro side for the remainder of the Brazilian domestic season, which ends on February 25th, Botafogo said in a video posted on social media.

“It is important to be careful not to repeat past mistakes,” football director Eduardo Freeland said. “We are very grateful for [Barroca’s] dedication but we have to consider everything.”

Botafogo were demoted to Brazilian soccer’s second tier following a 1-0 home defeat to Sport Recife on Friday.

Eduardo Barroca, the fifth manager to be sacked by the two-time Serie A champions in the past year, oversaw just one win, one draw and 10 losses following his appointment in November.

Once one of Brazil’s biggest clubs, Botafogo have fallen on hard times in recent years, having been relegated three times since 2002.

The club’s poor performances in the past year came despite high-profile signings such as Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda and former Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, both of whom failed to meet expectations.