RIO DE JANEIRO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Sao Paulo has sacked Argentine manager Luis Zubeldia after a poor start to the Brazilian Serie A season, the club said on Monday.

Sao Paulo is currently 14th in Brazil's 20-team top-flight standings with just two wins from 12 games so far. The club has fared better in the Copa Libertadores, finishing top of its group to advance to the last 16, where it will meet Colombia's Atletico Nacional over two legs in August.

"By mutual agreement and in an amicable manner, it was decided that Luis Zubeldia will not remain in charge of the team," Sao Paulo said in a statement on its official website.

Zubeldia guided Sao Paulo to 38 wins, 27 draws and 20 losses after taking charge in April last year.

Media reports said former Argentina striker Hernan Crespo was the frontrunner to assume the vacant position. Crespo, who had an eight-month spell in charge of the club in 2021, has been out of work since parting ways with United Arab Emirates outfit Al Ain last November. ■