Portuguese manager Pedro Caixinha was sacked by Santos on Monday after less than four months in charge of the Brazilian Serie A club.

The announcement followed Santos' 1-0 away defeat to Fluminense on Sunday, a result that left the club 18th in Brazil's 20-team top flight standings with just a point from three games.

In a statement, Santos said that assistant manager Cesar Sampaio had been appointed caretaker manager.

Caixinha, whose managerial career has included spells at Glasgow Rangers, Santos Laguna and Talleres Cordoba, led Santos to six wins, four draws and seven losses after replacing Fabio Carille in December.

According to local media reports, Jorge Sampaoli, Tite and Dorival Junior are among the candidates to assume the vacant position.