Jose Antonio Camacho has resigned as Benfica coach, the Lisbon club’s president Luis Filipe Vieira has confirmed.
Camacho’s assistant Fernando Chalana will take charge of the team for the UEFA Cup last-16 second leg game against Getafe on Wednesday.
Benfica were held to a 2-2 draw by bottom-of-the-table Uniao Leiria on Sunday, a result which left them 14 points behind Portuguese Premier League leaders Porto with eight games remaining this season.
“I think it is best (my resignation) for the team,” the former Spanish national coach told a news conference. “I hope that the players improve with another coach.”
Camacho, in his second spell at the club, was appointed coach in August after Fernando Santos was sacked.
The Spaniard was assistant to Real first-team coaches John Toshack and Alfredo Di Stefano in the early 1990s before steering both Rayo Vallecano and Espanyol to promotion to the top flight.
Camacho had two brief spells in charge of Real Madrid, resigning after just 23 days in 1998 following a row over back- room staff and quitting after three league games in 2004 claiming that he could not carry a dressing room packed with high-profile players.
