Luxemburgo named Fluminense coach

Former Real Madrid boss Vanderlei Luxemburgo has been named as coach of Brazilian club champions Fluminense.

The 61-year-old, who also led Brazil from 1998-2000, replaces Abel Braga, sacked Monday after the club's fifth consecutive loss, reports Xinhua.

His first match in-charge will be against Campeonato Brasileiro leaders Cruzeiro at the Maracana Stadium Wednesday.

"I've come to give continuity to a winning task with a squad that are going through a bad patch. But they're a team that lost only three matches on their way to becoming Brazilian champions in 2012. We will try to revert the situation and put Fluminense back where they belong, at the top of the table," Luxemburgo said Tuesday, who was dismissed as Gremio coach last month, just weeks after the Porto Alegre club was eliminated from the Copa Libertadores.

Luxemburgo is the most successful coach in Brazil's domestic football history having won five top-flight titles with four different clubs. He led Real Madrid during their Galactico era in 2005 before being sacked after just 11 months in-charge.