Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo, winner of four championship titles as part of the Brazilian national soccer team, died on Friday in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 92.

Mario Zagallo died at the age of 92

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), through its president Ednaldo Rodríguez, paid tribute to its “eternal champion” and declared seven days of mourning in his honor.

“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of our eternal four-time world champion Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo. A devoted father, a loving grandfather, an affectionate father-in-law, a faithful friend, an unsurpassed professional and a wonderful person. A huge idol. A patriot who leaves us a legacy of great achievements…” Zagallo’s family reported.

Zagallo was the first to win the FIFA World Cup as a player and as a coach. Franz Beckenbauer (1990) and Didier Deschamps (2018) are also currently on the shortlist.

As a footballer, Mario Zagallo won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962. The titles were won in 1970 (as head coach) and 1994 (he was technical director – Carlos Alberto Parreira was the head coach at the final tournament in the USA). . He was also the vice-champion of the world in 1998.

When he won the trophy in 1970, Zagallo became the second youngest coach to win the FIFA World Cup (age 38). The record belongs to Alberto Suppici (he won the World Cup final with Uruguay in 1930 at the age of just 31).

Zagallo also coached four major clubs in Rio de Janeiro (Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco and Botafogo), as well as Kuwait (1976-77), Saudi Arabia (1982-84) and the United Arab Emirates (1988-90).

Zagallo was very popular among fans who appreciated his frankness and patriotism. Trained at Botafogo, the left-hander, extremely experienced and intelligent, developed alongside the greatest players in his country’s history, from Pele to Garrinci, not forgetting Didi, Nilton Santos, Gerson, Rivellino, Jairzinho and Tostao.

Mario Zagallo – Joga Bonito/Sculptor Pele: “50% of what I’ve done is his work”

Mario Zagallo, hospitalized in Rio de Janeiro in mid-August with a urinary tract infection, died on Friday at the age of 92. After a life dedicated to football. And the green and gold T-shirt, which was worn faithfully, like a second skin, writes Le Figaro, News.ro reports.

He watched matches with passion, before enlivening them with careful runs and delicate dribbling, then controlling them with a masterful hand. Mario Zagallo was the sculptor of “Joga Bonito” (beautiful game).

“I owe him a lot. Maybe 50% of what I’ve done is Zagallo’s work,” he once said Pele.

“I had many good coaches, but Zagallo was really the best,” he summed up Ronaldo Nazario on the website of the international federation.

In 1950, during his military service, Mario Zagallo took part in guarding the new Maracanã, which he saw being built in his neighborhood of Tijuca. Among 173,000 spectators, he watched in shock as Brazil lost to Uruguay in the World Cup final. The party that turned into a tragedy entered Brazilian collective memory as the Maracanã tragedy.

Mario Zagallo (Ant) was part of the comeback. In May 1958, he scored twice in his first match against Paraguay, a performance that opened the door to the World Cup.

He played in every match for the Seleção, who won their first World Cup in 1958 (scoring in the final against Sweden), supported by a phenom called Pele. Zagallo won the trophy again in 1962 in Chile (along with Garrincha, Vava, Amarildo and Didi) and throughout his life he had a special connection with football’s most important event.

A player (from America to Botafogo, via Flamengo), a lively left winger, very active in the defensive line and in defensive tasks, Mario Zagallo (31 selections for the national team, 5 goals) was Brazil’s periscope. It was not performed. Effective. Indispensable. In the service of games, etc.

In the shadow of Pele, Garrinci, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto, Gilmar, Wawa and Didi without suffering for it. But at 35, his tactical acumen took him to the front of the game as the strategist found the perfect outlet for expression, embracing a coaching career (at Botafogo) that would change his dimension as success was immediate.

A few months before the 1970 World Cup, he inherited the Seleção. João Saldaña, no longer in the Brazilian military government, was dismissed. Algall was sent on a mission. He returned to the World Cup. In an open position, subjected to the harshest criticism (“There is no alternative to victory for the national coach: 150 million Brazilians continue to pressure Zagalo”, as summarized by the New York Times).

Mario Zagallo resisted and built his legend. This is a coach who is able to unite the passion of Brazilians and win the biggest titles. Now he is going to sign his masterpiece. A symphony without false notes in Mexico, during the most beautiful soccer world cup. First in color, first live.

With their third win, Brazil secured the Jules Rimet Cup for good and established themselves as the greatest team of all time. The Dream Team (with four No. 10s, Pele, Tostao, Gerson and Rivelino), 22 years before the American Dream Team that electrified the Barcelona Olympics with basketball geniuses Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. However, a few hours before the competition, Brazil feared a fiasco similar to the 1966 World Cup fiasco (elimination in the first round). But the magic happened.

“I completely changed Seleção. This team will always be remembered,” said Zagallo, the coach of the Brazil team that shocked the football world (6 matches, 6 wins, 19 goals scored during the competition, a dream final organized by Pele, won 4-1 against Italy).

“The 1958 team is the strongest I have ever played for and the 1970 team is the strongest I have ever coached. I think they had two things in common: victory and the ability to please and surprise,” Mario Zagallo summed up.

In 1994, the “professor” was still the sports coordinator of the Brazilian team when Romario and Bebeto won the title in the USA.

“You taught us to love yellow, the color of Brazil. You have always defended our country, on and off the field. You are an example for all of us,” said Dunga, the team’s captain, before the 1998 final defeat by Aimé Jacquet’s France.

The final was not over on July 12, 1998 at the Stade de France, as Aimé Jaquet congratulated his colleague: “He is the best coach in the world. It would take me two lifetimes to hope to match his record. I admired him as a player and then as a coach. I hope he’s not upset that I beat him.”

“I wanted to go home after marching down the Champs-Élysées through the Arc de Triomphe. But the Arc de Triomphe is yours,” replied Zagallo.

He exported his experience. In Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. But he always returned to where he left off. To the cause of his life, Selasao. Like a magnet. Against everything.

Brazil has produced, celebrated and celebrated many more talented and impressive players than Zagallo, but has always had a deep respect for this honest, dedicated man who carved out a special place for himself in Selaçao history with a unique track record.