RIO DE JANEIRO, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Former Middlesbrough and Brazil international midfielder Doriva has quit as coach of Vasco da Gama, the Rio de Janeiro club said on Sunday night.
The 43-year-old tendered his resignation after Vasco's 2-1 loss to Sport in Recife on Saturday.
"I'm sorry that we didn't get better results in the league," Doriva said in a statement on Vasco's website.
"I think that by my leaving Vasco can improve and that someone with a different methodology can get the results that Vasco expects."
Doriva guided Vasco to the Rio de Janeiro state championship in April. But they have been unable to replicate that form in Brazil's Serie A, the country's top domestic league. They are currently last in the standings having yet to post a win after eight matches.
Capped 12 times for Brazil in the 1990s, Doriva had spells as a player at Porto, Sampdoria, Celta Vigo and Middlesbrough.