The only man to have won the World Cup a total of four times as a player and then coach, Mário Zagallo died on Friday January 5. He leaves behind one of the greatest legacies in world football.
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The “Old Wolf” has died out. Mário Zagallo, former player and then coach of the Seleção, died on Friday January 5 at the age of 92, leaving behind a timeless legacy with the Brazilian selection. The man also nicknamed “The Professor” played a key role in four of the five world titles won by Brazil and will especially remain the very first to have won the World Cup as a player, then as a coach.
In total, he lifted the trophy four times: first twice as a player alongside Pelé in 1958 in Sweden and in 1962 in Chile, then as coach in 1970 in Mexico and as assistant coach in 1994 in the UNITED STATES. He has only failed once in the final of a World Cup: in 1998 during Brazil’s 3-0 defeat against the Blues at the Stade de France.
To date, only two other men have succeeded in imitating him: the German Franz Beckenbauer (in 1974 as a player and 1990 as a coach) and Didier Deschamps, current coach of the France team, who was on the pitch in 1998 during the Blues’ first world title against Brazil and who was at the head of the selection in 2018 during their second victory in Russia.
A legend hailed by all generations
When his death was announced, tributes quickly multiplied to salute the man as much as the footballer. “ Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo was one of the greatest football players and coaches of all time, a great winner and a symbol of love for the Brazilian national team and for Brazil », Declared Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva on social networks.
Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo is one of the best jogadores and football players of all times, a great speed and symbol of love for the Brazilian and Brazilian team.
The best individual in the history of the Copa do Mundo, sends the camp of both men and women as a jog, camp and…— Lula (@LulaOficial) January 6, 2024
Fifa logically saluted Zagallo’s achievements in the World Cup, while the Seleção announced, through its president Ednaldo Rodrigues, seven days of mourning in tribute to the Auriverde legend.
Remembering the legendary Mário Zagallo – the only man to win the @FIFAWorldCup we have four occasions ❤️
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) January 6, 2024
Many Brazilian players, both former teammates and players who played under him, also paid tribute to his career.
In August 2013, on the occasion of Zagallo’s 82nd birthday, the legend Pelé had already highlighted the importance of their relationship: ” Zagallo is like a brother to me. When we arrived in Sweden for the 1958 World Cup, I was 17 and the youngest member of the team and Zagallo, along with Zito and Gilmar, took me under their protection “. Having died a year ago, his official account maintained by the Pelé Foundation obviously saluted the mark he left in the history of Brazilian football.
Um dia sada quem ama o futebol. O Velho Lobo se despede de nos. If there is a selection of jogadores we don’t know, it will be a great trainer. We hope that these friends must meet, and that their legs will not be preserved forever. At the Pelé Foundation… pic.twitter.com/qjRIAfmX4s
— Pele (@Pele) January 6, 2024
O Brasil lost one of the biggest names in his football history, Zagallo. Campeoníssimo e que tive o prazer de trabalhar no inicio e final de minha carreira no Flamengo e ainda na Copa de 98. Que ele descanse em paz e Deus comforte seus familiares. O Brasil eo futebol agradecem. pic.twitter.com/oEukPYm8UW
— Zico Oficial (@Galinho1953) January 6, 2024
Scheduled for Sunday January 7, Mário Zagallo’s funeral will take place at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in Rio de Janeiro, according to a press release released by his family. He will then be buried at the São João Batista cemetery in the Botafogo district.
(With AFP)