World Football

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Brazil's Portuguesa have fired coach Estevam Soares after losing the first game of the season, replacing him with Mario Sergio.

Soares was dismissed following Wednesday's 1-0 defeat by Guarani in their opening Paulista (Sao Paulo state) championship match, the club said on their website (www.portuguesa.com.br).

He took over in August and was in charge for a total of 17 games. Last season Portuguesa were relegated to the second division of the Brazilian championship.

Mario Sergio's previous job was a nine-match stint with Figueirense last year. He quit with four matches of the campaign left and the team were eventually relegated.

The Paulista is one of a plethora of regional tournaments which serve as a warm-up to the Brazilian championship.

Brazilian football has one of the highest turnovers of coaches. The 2008 season produced 35 coaching changes among the 20 first division clubs.