Under Roth's guidance, the team have suffered eight defeats in their last 11 Campeonato Brasileiro and Copa Sudamericana matches.

Vasco were in third spot 11 Campeonato Brasileiro rounds ago and were fighting for the title, but now lie in 12th place on 43 points.

Former Brazil star and Adeliade United guest Romario, 41, will coach the team when Vasco bid to overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit in the Copa Sudamericana quarter-final against America on Wednesday.

Interim president Eurico Miranda said: "I talked to Romario and he will be player and coach in the America game. The board and I have every confidence in him."

Miranda admitted the situation the club finds itself in is an usual one.

"It's different, new," he said. "Romario is the natural leader of the team and we talked to players about this to see if they agreed."

Miranda added that the new full-time coach is expected to be announced on Wednesday.