Brazilian football legend Mario Zagallo, one of the most important figures in the nation’s sporting history, has died at the age of 92.
Zagallo is most renowned for playing a significant role in a record four separate World Cup-winning campaigns for Brazil, including two as a player, one as a manager and one as an assistant coach.
The former forward was also at the 2002 tournament as a special adviser as Brazil won their fifth, and most recent, World Cup.
Zagallo was manager as Brazil reached the final in 1998 too, while he returned for one final World Cup campaign as a technical assistant in 2006.
“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 said.
“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.”
“The CBF and Brazilian football mourn the death of one of its legends,” added Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues.
“The CBF offers solidarity to his family and fans in this moment of sadness at the departure of this idol of our football.”
Zagallo’s two World Cups as a player came back to back in 1958 and 1962, scoring in the 1958 final as Brazil, inspired by a teenage Pele, were crowned world champions for the first time in Sweden before retaining the title in Chile four years later.
Zagallo was the last surviving member of the team that started the 1958 final, while he was named in the All-Star team for his contributions in 1962, when Brazil’s talisman Pele was forced to miss a large chunk of the tournament due to injury.
The Atalaia-born attacker then went on to manage the national team after hanging up his boots, masterminding the 1970 World Cup-winning team that is regarded by many as the greatest side in the history of football.
In doing so, Zagallo became the first person to win the World Cup as both as player and a manager, a feat since emulated by Franz Beckenbauer and Didier Deschamps.
Zagallo remained in charge for the 1974 tournament, when Brazil finished fourth, before serving as assistant to Carlos Alberto Parreira in 1994 for his and Brazil’s fourth World Cup title – a tally no other individual can equal.
The legendary figure then returned to take charge of the team in 1998, a tournament which Brazil entered as favourites before being beaten by hosts France in the final, when star striker Ronaldo suffered a mysterious fit on the morning of the match.
Zagallo was also on the pitch as a soldier as Brazil lost the 1950 World Cup final to Uruguay at the Maracana – a result still regarded as one of the darkest days in Brazilian sporting history.
In addition to his 33 caps for Brazil and inextricable links to World Cups, Zagallo represented Flamengo and Botafogo at club level, notably teaming up with his fellow Brazil international winger Garrincha at the latter.
Zagallo went on to manage both clubs multiple times, beginning his coaching career at Botafogo before getting the Brazil job, and going on to spend four different stints in charge of the club, as well as three spells in charge of Flamengo.
At international level, Zagallo took charge of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates during his well-travelled career, steering the latter to a first-ever World Cup in 1990.
In total, he took charge of more than 1,200 games as a manager, while he won 15 domestic titles, a Copa America, a Confederations Cup and an Arabian Gulf Cup throughout his career, in addition to his four World Cups.
Mario Zagallo was one of the most influential figures in FIFA World Cup™ history and the first person to win football’s greatest prize as both player and coach.
The former winger, who passed away on 6 January 2024 at the age of 92, won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil a remarkable four times – twice as a player, in 1958 and 1962, once as coach in 1970 and once as assistant coach in 1994. He will best be remembered for leading the 1970 team, arguably one of the finest that football has ever seen, with an array of legendary players including Pelé, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostão.
Usually known in Brazil simply as “Zagallo”, his career transcended the old and modern eras of the FIFA World Cup. He also coached Brazil at the 1974 tournament and, for a third time, in 1998, leading them to the runners-up spot, and was Brazil’s technical co-ordinator in 2006. He is one of only three people to have won the FIFA World Cup as both player and coach.
Born in the state of Alagoas in 1931, Zagallo’s family moved to Rio de Janeiro when he was eight months old and he spent the rest of his life in the Cidade Maravilhosa. He initially joined América, then moved to Flamengo in 1950 where he quickly began collecting titles, picking up three Carioca championships. He was at the Maracanã, as a teenage solider on security duty, on the day that Uruguay stunned Brazil 2-1 to win the FIFA World Cup 1950™ in one of the tournament’s greatest upsets.
As Brazil’s left winger in the FIFA World Cup 1958™, he began to show that he was ahead of his time. Zagallo helped turn Brazil’s 4-4-2 into a 4-3-3 by dropping back into the midfield to provide extra cover for the defence, a novelty at the time. His defensive abilities proved crucial in the final when, with Sweden leading 1-0, he prevented a second goal by heading the ball off the line. Brazil went on to win 5-2, with Zagallo scoring the fourth.
Four years later, Zagallo scored Brazil’s opening goal of their campaign, in the 2-0 over Mexico, as they went on to retain their title.
Zagallo, now with Botafogo, retired in 1965 and quickly moved into coaching with the club’s youth team. He took over the senior team in 1967 and they won the Campeonato Carioca in his first season. He never looked back after that.
Just 75 days before the start of the FIFA World Cup 1970, Zagallo was put in charge of the Brazil team to replace João Saldanha, who led them through the qualifying campaign. Although there was little time to play with, Zagallo changed both the players and the system. “I had already formed the opinion that if Brazil took that (old) system to the World Cup, we wouldn’t get anywhere,” he told FIFA on his 90th birthday.
Brazil went on to win all six games and claim their third world title in a tournament that, broadcast in colour for the first time, took the World Cup into the modern era.
Zagallo was again involved when Brazil won their fourth World Cup title 24 years later, this time as assistant to coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.
Fascinated by the number 13, which he believed would bring him luck, Zagallo also coached the national teams of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, helping the latter qualify for the FIFA World Cup 1990 although he was not in charge for the tournament itself.
In Rio de Janeiro, he coached Botafogo four times, Flamengo three, Vasco da Gama twice and Fluminense once. He won his final title, the Campeonato Carioca, with Flamengo in May 2001 and called it a day sixth months later at the age of 70, bringing the curtain down on a 53-year career.
“I was born on the right day,” he once said. “I was born with victory by my side.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino paid tribute, saying: “It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of one of the true greats, a man whose impact on the FIFA World Cup is unparalleled.”
“In times of need, Brazil has looked to ‘The Professor’ as a calming presence, a steering hand and as a tactical genius. He will be remembered as the Godfather of Brazilian football and his presence will be sorely missed by everyone in the game but especially here at FIFA.
“The story of the FIFA World Cup cannot be told without Mário Zagallo.
“I wish to send my heartfelt condolences to the country of Brazil, the Brazilian Football Association and to his family and friends.”
