The next season though Savio managed to make Salgaocar runners-up in the league only five points behind champions East Bengal.
He then continued his success with Salgaocar by winning the Durand Cup in 2003 by beating East Bengal 4-3 on penalties.
Salgaocar though were only forced to one season in the second division as they were promoted for the 2007–08 I-League but were again relegated as they finished dead last with only one win out of eighteen games.
After getting knocked out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Colaco left his post as India coach while again Savio stayed on.
On 29 October 2011, it was announced that Savio would be the head coach of the India national football team till his contract ran out with the AIFF in May 2012.
He coached India for the first time on 13 November 2011 against Malaysia in the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, Assam.
He then managed to bring India to the semi-finals after a 3–0 victory over Sri Lanka in their final group match.