Santos coach fired after ‘heavy’ defeat and Neymar’s tears

Yemen

Yamanat

Monday August 18, 2025, the Brazilian club Santos sacked its coach, Kleber Xavier, after the heavy defeat he suffered at home against Vasco da Gama, with a score of 0-6, on Sunday, while Neymar came out crying after the match.

“The club thanks Shavier for his efforts and we wish him success in his career,” said an official club statement, following the ousting of its coach, who took office last April.

With this heavy defeat, Santos, home of legends Pelé and Neymar, sits in 15th place out of 20 teams in the Brazilian Football League, just two points from the relegation zone.

Television footage showed Neymar crying intensely after Santos’ heavy defeat.

Neymar received comfort from a member of Santos’ coaching staff on the pitch after a match in which Vasco da Gama star Philippe Coutinho scored two goals.

Neymar, 33, a former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star, returned to his former Brazilian club last January after a disappointing experience in the Saudi Al Hilal jersey, and extended his contract with Santos last June to stay with the team until the end of this year.

Yemen