SUMMARY
- Zigallo the first person to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager
- Mario Zagallo, who represented Brazil in two World Cups as a player, a coach, and an assistant coach, has passed away.
Mario Zagallo, who represented Brazil in two World Cups as a player, a coach, and an assistant coach, has passed away. He was ninety-two. For many Brazilian football fans, Zigallo is the first person to win the World Cup as both a player and a manager, is the epitome of tenacity, glory, and patriotism.
In a statement announcing Zagallo’s passing in the early hours of January 6, Brazilian soccer federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues stated that Zagallo “is one of the biggest legends” in the game’s history. “We offer solidarity to his family members and fans in this moment of grief for the departure of this great hero of our soccer,” Rodrigues said. Neither his family nor the Federation disclosed the cause of death.
The first person to win the World Cup as both a manager and as a player. 🏆🏆🏆🏆
A #FIFAWorldCup legend in every sense.
Rest in peace, Mário Zagallo. 💛💚 pic.twitter.com/AWmOvxQKSa
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) January 6, 2024
Several Brazilian teams Zagallo coached and played for also released statements lamenting his passing. He was regarded as one of the most captivating and superstitious characters in Brazilian soccer. He was also well-known for his love of the No. 13 and his frequent use of the slur “You will have to put up with me” directed at opponents.
Given that 13 is made up of the final two numbers of his birth year (1931), he said that it is his lucky number. Any connection, no matter how tenuous, between 13 and his soccer accomplishments was always emphasized by him. Zagallo was involved with almost every significant period of Brazilian football history, from the country’s 1958 World Cup victory until its 2014 World Cup hosting.
Mario Zagallo was criticized after the 1998 World Cup final against France
When Brazil defeated Italy in the final of the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Zagallo was Carlos Alberto Parreira’s assistant coach. Four years later, he took charge again for the 1998 World Cup in France, when Brazil fell 3-0 to the host nation in a match that was characterized by forward Ronaldo’s strange convulsions before the match. Zagallo came under fire for allowing Ronaldo to participate.
“He was cleared to play by the doctors,” Zagallo said. “Anyone in my position would have done the same thing. I wasn’t going to be the one keeping him from playing in a World Cup final.” Zagallo will always go down as Brazil’s legend in the sport.
On behalf of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, has made the following statement:
“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.
“Mário Zagallo won four FIFA World Cups, as a… pic.twitter.com/IcwKJw08Vg
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) January 6, 2024
He served as Parreira’s assistant coach in 2006, which was his last position as a national team coach. Before the event, Brazil was the clear favorite to win their sixth World Cup in Germany. However, in the quarterfinals, the team captained by Ronaldinho, Kaká, Ronaldo, and Adriano lost to France.
One of the few coaches to have good runs at all four of the historic Rio clubs—Fluminense, Botafogo, Vasco da Gama, and Flamengo—was Zagallo. In addition to Rio’s America, where he started his career as a striker, he additionally featured for Flamengo and Botafogo, two of the few Brazilian teams that competed with Pele’s Santos in the 1960s.