PIREAUS: Brazilian legend Zico was fired Tuesday as the coach of Greek champions Olympiakos as the team fell seven points behind arch-rivala Panathinaikos in the domestic table.

Olympiakos announced that the caretaker coach will be the team's Bosnian Serb scouter Bozidar Bandovic.

Zico, 56, joined Olympiakos last September signing a two-year contract after last coaching at CSKA Moscow but failed to lead the team to first place in the league.

After the weekend's scoreless draw at Kavala, Olympiakos finds itself in second place, seven points behind leader Panathinaikos.

The team continues to play in the Champions League with a last 16 round tie against French side Bordeaux coming up next month.

Zico has also coached the Japanese national team (2002-2006) with whom he won the 2004 Asian Cup as well as Kashima Antlers (1999), Fenerbachce (2006-2008) and Bunyodkor (2008).