Zagallo dies aged 92, the legend of world football
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Former Brazilian national team player and former coach, Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo, has died at the age of 92. The information was published early this Saturday morning (6) on the official profile of the world football legend.
“A devoted father, loving grandfather, affectionate father-in-law, faithful friend, successful professional and a great human being. Giant idol. A patriot who leaves us a legacy of great achievements”, says the note.
“We thank God for the time we were able to spend with you and we ask the Father that we find comfort in the good memories and in the great example you leave us”, he continues.
Relive historic moments in Zagallo’s career.
Beginnings in football
Zagallo was born in the city of Atalaia, in the state of Alagoas, on August 9, 1931. While still young, he moved to Rio and began his career as a player in the youth teams of América Futebol Clube.
In 1950, he participated in his first World Cup, but not yet as an athlete. At the time, aged 19, he was part of the Army Police.
Knowing of his connection with football, the head of the competition’s security scheme assigned him to work in the stands of the Maracanã stadium during the final, where he watched Brazil be defeated by Uruguay.
The Brazilian national team player
Eight years later, the story was different. Already one of Flamengo’s highlights, he was included in the call-up to the Brazilian team in the victorious campaign of the Oswaldo da Cruz Cup. With his success, he continued with the group to that year’s World Cup, which was held in Sweden.
On European soil, he participated in all six games of the competition. He ended up being responsible for one of the goals in the final won by the Brazilians 5-2, against the home team. There, he won his first World Cup. In the following edition, in 1962, in Chile, he won his second world championship.
Still playing hopscotch, he won the Atlantic Cup (1960), the Oswaldo Cruz Cup (1958, 1961 and 1962), the Bernardo O’Higgins Cup (1959 and 1961) and the Roca Cup (1960 and 1963). In 1964 he decided to retire from Canarinho as an athlete.
The Coach
Even after hanging up his boots, Velho Lobo decided to continue playing football. In 1966, he took charge of Botafogo. In the team, he was champion of the Campeonato Carioca in 1967 and 1968, the Taça Rio in the same years, and the Campeonato Brasileiro in 1968, at the time called the Taça Brasil.
Before the 1970 World Cup, held in Mexico, he was called to coach the national team, replacing João Saldanha. The team was full of stars, such as Pelé, Rivelino, Gérson, Jairzinho, Clodoaldo and Tostão.
The Brazilian campaign was spectacular: six wins in six games, 19 goals scored and only seven conceded, crowning a great campaign for the third championship. Zagallo became the first person in history to win a World Cup as a coach and player.
In 1974, it did not have the same success, even though it kept some parts of the tri. He finished fourth in the World Cup in Germany.
In the 1970s he also had successful stints as coach of Flamengo, Fluminense, and Al-Hilal, from Saudi Arabia. In the 1980s he commanded Vasco, the Saudi National Team and Bangu.
The technical coordinator
After 20 years, Zagallo returned to the biggest football competition. But this time, as technical coordinator, on Carlos Alberto Parreira’s commission, at the World Cup in the United States, in 1994.
In the group stage, the team did not lose, leading group B. They beat Russia, 2-0, and Cameroon, 3-0. Against Sweden, they drew 1-1.
In the round of 16, the Brazilians defeated the hosts 1-0, with a goal from Bebeto. In the quarter-finals, they beat the Netherlands 3-2. In the semi-final, the team met Sweden again, but this time they won 1-0.
The grand final was against Italy, with a persistent 0-0 draw in normal time. On penalties, Brazil scored 3-2, breaking a 24-year streak without winning the World Cup. It was Zagallo’s fourth title as a member of the delegation.
After the competition, with Parreira’s departure, the “Old Wolf” was chosen for succession and returned to command the Brazilian team. He won the Umbro Cup in 1995, and the Copa América and Confederations Cup in 1997.
The return to the World Cup in charge of the National Team
In 1998, Zagallo embarked on his third World Cup as a coach. In the first phase, Brazil finished first in group A, with six points, beating two teams: Scotland, 2-1, and Morocco, 3-0. And suffered a setback, against Norway, 2-2. 1.
In the round of 16, they beat Chile 4-1, with goals from César Sampaio and Ronaldo Fenômeno. In the quarterfinals, they beat Denmark, led by legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, 3-2, in a great match.
In the semi-final they had the Netherlands ahead. In normal time, they drew 1-1 with A Clockwork Orange. On penalties, they won 4-2, counting on the genius of goalkeeper Taffarel.
But in the final, against France, the tournament’s hosts, the story changed. Marked by Ronaldo Fenômeno’s seizure before the match, the Seleção was completely dominated and defeated 3-0.
Fresh start
The fifth championship would come in 2002, under the command of Luiz Felipe Scolari, who left office after the victory.
With this, the way was opened for the return of the victorious duo in 1994: Parreira and Zagallo, in the same roles at the time: coach and technical coordinator, respectively.
During the period, they were champions of the Copa América, in 2004 and the Confederations Cup, in 2006. But the outcome in the World Cup would come earlier, in the quarter-finals, after defeat to France.
Zagallo’s titles with the Brazilian national team
- As a player: World Cup (1958 and 1962); Atlantic Cup (1960); Oswaldo Cruz Cup (1958, 1961 and 1962); Bernardo O’Higgins Cup (1959 and 1961); Copa Roca (1960 and 1963);
- As a coach: World Cup (1970); Copa América (1997); Confederations Cup (1997); Roca Cup (1971); Independence Cup (1972); Umbro Cup (1995); Pre-Olympic (1996);
- As technical coordinator: World Cup (1994); Copa América (2004); and Confederations Cup (2005).
*With information from CNN Brasil
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