Benfica fire Ferreira

Benfica fans will not be sorry to see Ferreira go

Benfica have sacked coach Jesualdo Ferreira after a string of disappointing results.

The final straw was their humiliating 1-0 Portuguese Cup defeat by second division Gondamar at the weekend.

A statement issued by the club said: "Jesualdo Ferreira has ceased to hold the position of principal coach.

"Enquiries are under way to quickly fill the position."

Among the possible candidates to replace Ferreira are Ricardo Gomes, coach of Brazil's Juventude de Caxias, and Boavista's Jaime Pacheco.

The former European champions crashed out of the Cup, which they have won 23 times, to a 10th-minute free kick by Cilio Souza.

Highest-spending

Afterwards, police in riot gear were called to control about 400 fans screaming insults outside Benfica's dressing room.

Benfica spent more on new players than any other Portuguese team during the summer.

Benfica sign Gomes

Their signings included international striker Nuno Gomes, who returned to Benfica after two years at Fiorentina.

The club lie third in the league, seven points behind leaders Porto.

Benfica are historically Portugal's most successful club and claim to have six million fans at home and around the world.

However, they have not won a league championship since 1993 and are not playing in Europe this season.