Sao Paulo, June 10 (IANS): Eight-time Brazilian Serie A champions Palmeiras have sacked coach Oswaldo de Oliveira after the club's poor start to the season.

Tuesday's announcement follows the Sao Paulo outfit's 1-2 loss at Figueirense on Sunday, a result that left them 15th in the 20-team league, reports Xinhua.

"We came to the conclusion that results were not in line with our objectives and that it was best to change the manager," Palmeiras president Paulo Nobre said.

Oliveira is the eighth coach to be sacked by a Brazilian top-flight club so far this season. In 31 games in-charge of Palmeiras, the 64-year-old led the team to 17 victories, seven draws and seven defeats.

"We were working towards our goal and I was optimistic that it would lead to a happy ending, but unfortunately others didn't agree," Oliveira said.

Among the favourites to assume the vacant position are former Cruzeiro coach Marcelo Oliveira and Shandong Luneng manager Cuca.