Journalism in the service of society

Brazilian football legend Mario Zagallo dies aged 92

 

BRAZILIAN football legend and four-time World Cup winner Mario Zagallo has died at the age of 92, just over a year after the death of another legend and his former teammate, Pele, passed on.

Zagallo was one of the stars in the Brazil team that won back-to-back World Cup titles in 1958 and 1962, starting in both finals as a winger.

He then managed the side widely regarded as one of the best national teams of all time, including Pele, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto, to the title again in 1970.

Zagallo was also an assistant coach to Carlos Alberto Parreira when Brazil won the World Cup again in 1994.

He returned as Brazil manager after that tournament and led them to the final in 1998, where they lost to hosts France.

Zagallo was the first person to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager — a feat that was later matched by Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer and France’s Didier Deschamps.

“With enormous sadness, we inform you of the death of our eternal four-time world champion Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo,” his official Instagram account announced today.

“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 was a late bloomer who made his Brazil debut at the age of 26 shortly before the 1958 tournament.

He then became a key part of the team as a 17-year-old Pele inspired the Selecao to victory over Sweden in the final, with Zagallo scoring the fourth goal in a 5-2 win.

Zagallo had been the last surviving member of Brazil’s 1958 World Cup-winning team who played in the final.

Zagallo’s wife of 57 years, Alcina de Castro, died in 2012. They had four children.

Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues 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.”

Comments are closed.

Naija Times