SAO PAULO — Eight-time Brazilian champion Palmeiras says it has hired relatively unknown coach Gilson Kleina to replace World Cup-winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, who left the team in the relegation zone of the Brazilian league. Club directors say Kleina has reached a deal to coach Palmeiras until the end of 2013. He was coaching Ponte Preta and his contract with that club would end in December. It will be the first time he will coach a top club in Brazil. Palmeiras and Scolari mutually terminated their contract after he failed to get the team out of the relegation zone. The team is second-to-last. — AP