March 10, 2008 10:24 PM

SOURCE:
yahoo.com

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Chalana steps in as Benfica coach

Former Portuguese international Fernando Chalana will replace Jose Antonio Camacho as Benfica coach until the end of the season, club president Luis Filipe Vieira announced Monday.

Camacho resigned Sunday claiming the motivation has disappeared from handling one of Portugal's biggest clubs.

The Spaniard handed in his resignation following the 2-2 home draw with Uniao Leiria which left his team 14 points behind leaders Porto.

"In principle he (Chalana) will hold this function until the end of the season," Vieira told a press conference. "Experience tells us that replacing coaches during the season isn't necessarily easy."

Chalana, 49, played for Benfica between 1975 and 1990 and has been a member of their technical staff since 2002.

Camacho, a former coach of Real Madrid, took charge at Benfica after the second match of the season and signed a two-year deal with the club he had already coached from August 2003 to May 2004.