Atletico Mineiro signs coach Autuori for 2014

Two days after its shock elimination in the Club World Cup

semifinals, Atletico Mineiro says it has reached a deal to replace

coach Cuca with Paulo Autuori for 2014.

Cuca is expected to move to Chinese football after receiving

what he described earlier this week as ”one of those offers hard

to reject.”

He will still be with the team when it plays Saturday’s

third-place match against Guangzhou Evergrande.

With Cuca, Atletico Mineiro won the 2013 Copa Libertadores, its

biggest title.

Autuori led Brazilian club Sao Paulo to the Club World Cup title

in 2005. He previously coached Peru and Qatar, as well as Brazilian

teams Cruzeiro, Gremio and Vasco da Gama.

Atletico lost 3-1 to Moroccan club Raja Casablanca on Wednesday.

Raja will play Bayern Munich in the final.