RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Former Middlesbrough and Brazil international midfielder Doriva has quit as coach of Santa Cruz, just 10 weeks after taking charge of the Brazilian Serie A club.

In a statement on their Facebook page, Santa Cruz said the 44-year-old resigned after a meeting with club directors on Thursday.

The announcement follows the Recife outfit's 1-0 loss to Botafogo on Wednesday, a result that left them second-last in the 20-team standings and facing almost certain relegation.

Promoted from Serie B last season, Santa Cruz are mired in a financial crisis amid reports that players and coaching staff have not been paid since May.

Capped 12 times for Brazil in the 1990s, Doriva had spells as a player at Porto, Sampdoria, Celta Vigo and Middlesbrough.