Mario Zagallo, who received two World Cups as a participant, one as a coach and one other as an assistant coach for Brazil, has died. He was 92.
The first individual to win the World Cup each as a participant and a supervisor, Zagallo is for a lot of Brazilian soccer followers synonymous with patriotism, grit and glory.
The solely individual to ever win 4 World Cup titles was additionally the final dwelling member of Brazil’s beginning staff in its first championship victory within the event in 1958.
Zagallo died late Friday evening of multiple-organ failure as a consequence of a number of comorbidities, Hospital Barra D’Or in Rio de Janeiro stated in a press release. Local media reported he was hospitalized after Christmas.
Brazilian soccer confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues stated in a press release within the early hours of Saturday confirming Zagallo’s dying that Zagallo “is one of the biggest legends” of the game. The funeral will happen Sunday on the confederation’s headquarters.
“We offer solidarity to his family members and fans in this moment of grief for the departure of this great hero of our football,” Rodrigues stated. Several Brazilian golf equipment the place Zagallo performed and coached additionally expressed their sorrow for his dying.
File image of Pele with Mario Zagallo after the latter’s appointment as coach of the Brazilian nationwide soccer staff, in 1970
| Photo Credit:
AP
Zagallo’s social media channels known as him “a dedicated father, a loving grandfather, a caring father-in-law, a loyal friend, a victorious professional and a great human being.” “A gigantic hero. A patriot that leaves us a legacy of great achievements,” the textual content added, with out giving extra particulars about Zagallo’s dying.
One of probably the most charismatic and superstitious figures in Brazilian soccer, he additionally was identified for his fondness of the No. 13 and fixed use of the phrase “You will have to put up with me” — voiced loudly at critics.
He stated 13 was his fortunate quantity as a result of it carries the final two digits of his beginning yr: 1931. He at all times highlighted any hyperlink, nonetheless coincidental, between 13 and his soccer successes.
Zagallo performed a job in practically each main chapter in Brazilian soccer historical past, from its first World Cup title in 1958 to the event it hosted in 2014. Former Brazil coach Tite visited him to listen to his recommendation earlier than taking the staff to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Sen. Romário Faria, the previous Brazil striker who famously spent most of his profession at odds with Zagallo, stated on Saturday the person nicknamed “Old Wolf” has “the same importance of Pelé” for his nation. The 1994 World Cup winner overtly criticized Zagallo for leaving him out of the 1998 event for medical causes.
Two-time World Cup winner Cafu, who performed for Zagallo within the 1994, 1998 and 2006 editions of the event, stated “he was not only a coach, but a friend, a father, a companion who taught me a lot.”
“That image of joy and commitment will remain,” he instructed TV channel GloboNews. “We love the national team so much, and when we speak about Zagallo it is about the national team.”
Zagallo was Brazil’s ahead when it received the World Cup in 1958 in Sweden and 1962 in Chile, and one of many first gamers to behave as a false winger, enjoying between midfielders and strikers.
He stopped enjoying professionally in 1965 and started his teaching profession with Rio membership Botafogo the next yr.
Named nationwide staff coach in 1970, simply earlier than the World Cup in Mexico, he inherited a squad that included Pelé, Jairzinho, Gerson, Roberto Rivellino and Tostão. Brazil crushed Italy 4-1 within the closing, changing into the primary three-time champion.
He additionally coached Brazil in 1974, however with out Pelé, the staff completed in fourth place.
Zagallo was assistant coach to Carlos Alberto Parreira when Brazil received the 1994 World Cup within the United States, once more beating Italy within the closing. Parreira many instances stated he felt as if the staff had two coaches, such was Zagallo’s affect in his squad.
And he was again on the helm 4 years later for the World Cup in France, when Brazil misplaced 3-0 to the hosts in a closing marked by striker Ronaldo’s unexplained convulsions earlier than the sport. Zagallo was criticized for letting Ronaldo play.
“He was cleared to play by the doctors,” Zagallo stated. “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.”
His closing teaching function with the nationwide staff was as Parreira’s assistant in 2006. Brazil was a pre-tournament favourite to win its sixth World Cup title in Germany. But the squad led by Ronaldinho, Kaká, Ronaldo and Adriano fell to France within the quarterfinals.
“The story of the FIFA World Cup cannot be told without Mário Zagallo,” the governing body’s president Gianni Infantino said in a statement. “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.”
Zagallo’s feat of being a World Cup winner as participant and supervisor was later matched by Franz Beckenbauer with West Germany (1974, 1990) and Didier Deschamps with France (1998, 2018).
He started his profession as a striker with Rio’s America and later additionally performed for Flamengo and Botafogo, one of many few Brazilian golf equipment which rivaled Pele’s Santos within the Nineteen Sixties.
Zagallo was hospitalized for 22 days in August of final yr because of a urinary an infection. Upon his return to his dwelling in Rio, he was filmed in a wheelchair.
“We are stronger than ever!,” he stated then in a posting on his social media channels, which resulted in his profession motto. “You will have to put up with me!”