RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- Santos sacked manager Cleber Xavier on Sunday after a record-breaking 6-0 home loss to Vasco da Gama in Brazil's Serie A.

It was Santos' heaviest home defeat in a Brazilian league match and was its biggest losing margin against Vasco in 98 years of meetings between the clubs.

"Santos announces the departure of coach Cleber Xavier," the eight-time Brazilian top-flight champion said in a social media post. "The club appreciates the services provided by the coach and wishes him luck in the future."

Xavier, a former assistant to Brazil national team boss Tite, led Santos to five wins, four draws and six losses after replacing Portuguese coach Pedro Caixinha in April.

Sunday's result also marked the biggest loss of Neymar's career. The 33-year-old had helped the club rise up the table in recent weeks with some impressive individual performances following his return from injury.

In the latter stages of Sunday's match at Morumbi stadium, Santos fans cheered Vasco's goals and turned their backs to the pitch for extended periods.

Santos is now 15th in Brazil's 20-team Serie A standings with 21 points from 19 games.

Former Argentina and Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli, who had a spell in charge of Santos in 2018 and 2019, is the frontrunner to replace Xavier. ■