Zagallo is honored by clubs, players and former athletes

With the death of Mario Jorge Lobo Zagalloon Friday night, at the age of 92, teams, players, former athletes and sports organizations mobilized to pay tribute to the four-time world champion.

The death was announced on Zagallo’s official Instagram profile. “A devoted father, loving grandfather, affectionate father-in-law, faithful friend, successful professional and a great human being, a giant idol”, says the note.

Among the tributes to Velho Lobo, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues, paid solidarity to his family and declared seven days of mourning for his death. Furthermore, Rodrigues ordered a minute of silence in all matches in the first round of the Copa do Nordeste qualifiers, which starts this Saturday.

“In 2022, we will inaugurate a statue in honor of the eternal champion at the CBF Museum and we will not forget the emotion we shared”, said the representative of the entity that controls national football.

The South American Football Confederation, CONMEBOL, also spoke out and highlighted that the former player was the only four-time world champion as a player, coach and assistant.

Former player Branco, four-time world champion with the Brazilian team in 1994, in the United States, thanked his friend and stated that Zagallo will be forever revered through a post on his social networks. “I had the honor of learning a lot from you.”

Fortaleza striker Marinho published a loving video alongside Zagallo. He also posted other photos on several visits to the trainer. “This news took me by surprise. I write this caption with tears in my eyes,” said the player, who said he lived with Zagallo in his last years. “Just be thankful for every minute with you,” he wrote.

Former full-back Athirson, who was called up by Zagallo to defend the Brazilian team, also paid tribute to him and also used social media to show his solidarity. “Champion on and off the field,” he said.

Brazilian clubs pay tribute

Several teams showed solidarity and paid tribute to the former player, including some for which the athlete played as a player and also as a coach, such as Botafogo, Flamengo, Vasco and Fluminense.

“Brazilian sport has a pioneer and a record holder in four-time world champion Zagallo. Flamengo has a historic idol in Zagallo”, wrote the Gávea team, a team in which he played as an athlete and was also a coach.

Botafogo, which counted on Zagallo four times in his career, also paid tribute on their social networks. “A true legend of Brazilian football.” The black and white club also highlighted the tribute he received during his lifetime at the Nilton Santos stadium with the statue inaugurated in 2013.

Zagallo was also honored by another big club in Rio: Fluminense. On their social networks, the Laranjeiras team posted that he “is one of the great legends in the history of Brazilian and world football and champion for Tricolor”.

Other clubs, despite not having had the coach present in their career, also showed solidarity in tributes on social media. Among them, São Paulo FC, which considered the former athlete as someone who “made history” in football.

Santos also paid tribute by sharing a photo of Zagallo with Pelé: “Our King Pelé awaits you in the sacred kingdom”, said the club in a post on its Instagram account.

Outside the Rio-São Paulo axis, messages of support and solidarity from the clubs were also displayed. Atlético-MG stated that football “says goodbye to one of its great names” with the coach’s departure and called him a “great national idol.” Coritiba also highlighted his titles and paid condolences to his family. “It will be marked forever in history,” he wrote.