Mexico City, Feb 18 (IANS) Mexico's Queretaro sacked manager Rafael Puente after the football team suffered their seventh straight top flight defeat.

The 1-3 loss at Lobos BUAP left the White Roosters last in the 18-team Liga MX Clausura standings without a single point to their name, reports Xinhua news agency.

"The board has decided that Rafael Puente del Rio will leave the team's head coaching position," the club said in a statement.

"We appreciate his dedication and professionalism and wish him and his staff much success in the future."

Puente led Queretaro to seven wins, six draws and 17 defeats after joining the club last May from Lobos BUAP, whom he guided to promotion in 2017.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Grateful for the opportunity, pleased to have represented @Club_Queretaro," the manager said in a social media post.

Queretaro did not say who would replace Puente though local media cited former Mexico head coaches Victor Manuel Vucetich and Jose Manuel de la Torre as the leading candidates.

--IANS tri/bg