Rio de Janeiro, Oct 8 (IANS): Former Porto and Brazil international midfielder Doriva has been appointed manager of Sao Paulo, the Brazilian club said.

Doriva, 43, quit as manager of fellow Brazilian Serie A outfit Ponte Preta to take charge of his boyhood club, reports Xinhua.

He replaces Juan Carlos Osorio, who announced his resignation on Tuesday to coach Mexico's national team.

"The arrival of Doriva brings great hope that we can achieve our goals, both short and long term," Sao Paulo president Carlos Aidar said in a statement on the club's official website on Wednesday.

"He is a coach who has a history with the club and I'm certain he will represent us very well."

Sao Paulo are currently fifth in Brazil's Serie A standings, 15 points behind leaders Corinthians with nine matches remaining in the season.

Capped 12 times for Brazil in the 1990s, Doriva had spells as a player at Porto, Sampdoria, Celta Vigo and Middlesbrough.