RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Three days after being fired from Santos, Dorival Junior was named on Saturday to be the new coach of the struggling Atletico-MG team.

Junior replaced Vanderlei Luxemburgo and will start his work immediately, leading the team against Gremio on Sunday in the 25th round of the Brazilian championship.

Junior signed a contract with Atletico-MG that runs through the 2011 season.

Junior will have a difficult and stressful task of avoiding Atletico-MG's relegation into the second division (Serie B).

Atletico-MG currently stand in the second-to-last place with 21 points. If they are unable to finish above 17th place at the end of the tournament, they will be lowered into the second division next year.