Mior axed as South China cut costs
Cost-conscious South China are ending their four-season partnership with Brazilian coach Casemiro Mior. The decision to not renew Mior's contract will help the reigning FA Cup and League Cup champions save $1 million next season, which starts in September.
Steering the Caroliners to a league title in the 1999-2000 season and five Cup trophies since joining the team in 1998 failed to win Mior another spell with the popular club as South China aimed to keep a tight budget in view of the poor state of local football.
'Mior did a fairly good job last season by leading us to win two trophies, but we needed to look at our finances. The prospects for local football are not promising, so we have to save money as much as we can. He costs us about a million every year,' said South China director Peter Leung Shou-chi.
'He's gone back home after his [one-year extended] contract expired in May. I'll let him know about our decision soon,' Leung said, adding it was likely they would promote one of their three assistant coaches - former head coach Wong Man-wai, Chan Kwok-hung and former national star Ku Kam-fai - to replace Mior. 'We won't hire somebody from outside. We'll give more chances to our coaches.'
The 44-year-old former Gremio left-back, part of the 1983 World Club Championship winners, joined South China four years ago alongside Brazilian defender Cristiano Cordeiro and Paraguayan Fernando Ornelas as the team attempted to inject some South American flavour.
In his first year, Mior led South China to triumphs in the FA Cup and Senior Shield. In the 1999-2000 season, he coached the team to league championship victory and defended the Senior Shield, but the 2000-2001 season was a massive disappointment as they failed to win a trophy. He won the Hong Kong coach of the year award twice, in the 1999-2000 season and last season. Mior also made contributions to the SAR's national team. He was at the helm when Hong Kong ended their six-year Guangdong-Hong Kong Interport title drought in 2000. He also coached the Hong Kong League XI sides at the Carlsberg Cup in 1999 and 2000, and the SAR side that failed to qualify from the Asian Olympic qualifiers in 1999.