RIO DE JANEIRO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Paulo Autuori has been appointed as the new coach of Sao Paulo, the Brazilian club confirmed on Thursday.

The announcement comes two days after the 56-year-old quit as coach of Rio de Janeiro outfit Vasco da Gama over delayed salary payments.

Autuori replaces Ney Franco, who was sacked by the club last week following a poor start to Brazil's Serie A season.

It will be Autuori's second spell in charge of the Tricolor after he led the side to the Copa Libertadores-FIFA Club World Cup double in 2005.

"It is with great pleasure that we welcome Paulo back to Morumbi," Sao Paulo's football director Adalberto Baptista said in a statement on the club's website. "He is a winner and I hope his stay will be a long one."

Autuori said he was ready for the challenge of helping Sao Paulo challenge for this year's league title.

"I hope that I can contribute like I did the last time," Autuori said. "Any coach would be proud to come back to manage a great club like this."