Brazil's Vasco da Gama coach Abel Braga gestures during the Copa Sudamericana football match between Brazil's Vasco da Gama and Bolivia's Oriente Petrolero at Sao Januario stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Feb 5, 2020. (MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP)

RIO DE JANEIRO - Veteran coach Abel Braga has parted ways with Brazilian giants Vasco da Gama after the team's poor start to the year.

The 67-year-old made the announcement on Monday, less than 24 hours after Vasco's 2-0 defeat by Fluminense in the Rio Cup.

Now the club will have a chance to find a manager who has time to work and make the necessary adjustments. My thanks go out to everyone

Abel Braga, Head coach, Vasco da Gama

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"Things are not going the way we had planned," the former Brazil international defender said in a statement sent to the media.

"Now the club will have a chance to find a manager who has time to work and make the necessary adjustments. My thanks go out to everyone."

Braga, who replaced former Brazil and Real Madrid boss Vanderlei Luxemburgo as Vasco's head coach in December, led the team to four wins, five draws and five losses.

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His decision came as the Rio de Janeiro Football Federation suspended all matches for two weeks because of the coronavirus outbreak.