Mario Zagallo: Brazil four-time World Cup winner dies aged 92 - 'Leaves a legacy of great achievements'
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Published 06/01/2024 at 12:54 GMT
Mario Zagallo won the World Cup with Brazil four times: one time as a manager, once as assistant coach, and twice as a player. He guided Brazil to their 1970 triumph as he built a side with Pele and Jairzhinho, regarded as one of the finest teams in the tournament's history. His official Instagram account announced on Friday night that he had died, aged 92.
Mario Zagallo
Image credit: Getty Images
Mario Zagallo, who won the World Cup four times as player and coach with Brazil, has died aged 92.
Zagallo played as a winger in the Brazilian national team that won consecutive World Cups, first in 1958 and then four years later, in 1962.
Eight years later he took the helm of the national team as manager, and with players such as Pele, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto, he won the 1970 World Cup.
The achievement meant that Zagallo became the first person to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager, an achievement since matched by Franz Beckenbauer for Germany, and Didier Deschamps - who would play for France against Zagallo’s Brazil in a World Cup final.
In 1994, Zagallo was Carlo Alberto Parreira’s assistant coach for the World Cup, where Brazil won the tournament on penalties against Italy.
Four years later he was the manager once more, but lost the final in Paris to France 3-0 in 1998.
"With enormous sadness, we inform you of the death of our eternal four-time world champion Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo," a statement on his official Instagram account confirmed.
"A devoted father, loving grandfather, caring father-in-law, faithful friend, victorious professional and a great human being. Giant idol. A patriot who leaves us a legacy of great achievements."
Zagallo’s tactical expertise earned him the nicknames ‘The Professor’ and ‘Old Wolf’ and his Brazil team of Pele, Jairzinho, Gerson, Tostao and Rivellino, which won every game of the 1970 World Cup, is regarded as one of the best in history, winning the final 4-1 over Italy.
The following tournament, in 1974 in West Germany, saw them finish fourth. He also had spells managing Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as managing at club level. In 2002, he was an adviser to the national team as Luiz Felipe Scolari guided Brazil to their fifth World Cup win.
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