Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira has left the club by mutual consent.

Ferreira took over at Porto in 2006 after impressing at Braga and guided the team to three successive Liga titles in his first three seasons in charge.

They could only finish third this season, though, eight points behind winners Benfica, having lost key players Lisandro Lopez and Lucho Gonzalez to Lyon and Marseille respectively last summer.

Porto also went out of the UEFA Champions League at the last-16 stage after losing 6-2 on aggregate to Arsenal.

A statement on Porto's official website read: "Porto have released coach Jesualdo Ferreira from his contract by mutual consent. This decision is effective from today."