Brazil’s World Cup-Winning Legend Mario Zagallo Dies @ 92

It is the end of an era as Brazil footballing icon, Mario Zagallo, has died at the age of 92. He is the first person to win the World Cup both as a player and a manager

A post on Zagallo’s Instagram on Saturday morning confirmed the news with the caption reading; “With enormous sadness, we inform you of the death of our eternal four-time World champion, Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo.

“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 became the first person to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager. As a player, Zagallo was a winger and was involved in the South American giants’ victories in 1958 and 1962.

Nicknamed ‘The Professor‘, Zagallo would then lead the Selecao to victory as coach in 1970 – a Pele-led team regarded as one of the best international sides in football history.

Having already established himself as a footballing legend in Brazil, Zagallo returned to the national team setup in 1994 as assistant before becoming Head coach for the 1998 World Cup.

Disappointingly, the Brazilians came within one game of making Zagallo a four-time World Cup winner as player and manager, losing 3-0 to France in the final.

During his 14-year career as a player at Flamengo and Botafogo, Zagallo won 33 caps for his national side. After hanging up his boots, he would go on to manage Brazil in three different spells as well as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

In the Brazilian domestic game, he managed clubs like Botafogo, Fluminense, Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Bangu and Portuguesa. He also took charge of Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia – his one club-management role outside of Brazil.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) President, Ednaldo Rodrigues, in a statement honouring Zagallo said; “The CBF and Brazilian football mourn the death of one of its legends.

“The CBF offers solidarity to his family and fans in this moment of sadness at the departure of this idol of our football.”

Born on 9 August 1931 in Atalaia, Brazil, Zagallo died on Saturday, 5 January 2024 at aged 92 in Rio de Janeiro, the Brazilian capital.

Besides holding the unmatchable record of four World Cup titles in total, late football Icon also holds the record for World Cup finals with six participations, in addition to being on the pitch during the 1950 final as a young soldier providing security for the event on the behalf of the Brazilian Armed Forces.

His impressive records also include coaching Brazil in 1974 (finishing fourth); in 1998 (finishing as runners-up) and was a technical assistant in 2006. Additionally, he is the first of three men, along with Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer and France’s Didier Deschamps to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager and the only one that has done it more than twice.

In 1992, Zagallo bagged the FIFA Order of Merit, the highest honour awarded by the World football governing body, for his contributions to the round leather game. Also, he was named the 9th Greatest Manager of All Time by World Soccer Magazine in 2013.

With the death of Pelé on 29 December 2022, Zagallo was the last surviving Brazilian player who featured in the 1958 World Cup final hosted by Sweden. – With Goal.com reports