Mario Zagallo is dead. The multiple world champion died at the age of 92, as the family announced on Saturday night (local time) via Zagallo’s Instagram account
Brazilian soccer is mourning “one of its greatest legends”, said federation president Ednaldo Rodrigues according to a statement from the CBF, which announced a seven-day mourning in Zagallo’s honor and a minute’s silence before the games at the weekend.
Zagallo had won the World Cup title in 1958 and 1962 as a midfielder and left winger alongside Pelé, and in 1970 he led the Seleçao to their third title win as national coach. He was the first man to win the World Cup as both a player and a coach. Franz Beckenbauer with Germany and Didier Deschamps with France later achieved the same feat.
1994 Zagallo was also instrumental in Brazil’s fourth World Cup title as assistant to national coach Carlos Alberto Parreira and subsequently took over as national coach for a second time. In 1997, he won the Copa America with the team, and a year later the Brazilians were beaten by France in the World Cup final.
“I want to thank you for everything, because I owe a lot of what has happened in my life and with the Seleçao to you,” Pelé said to Zagallo on the occasion of his 90th birthday. Ronaldo once said: “I’ve had many important coaches, but Zagallo was without doubt the best of them all.”
Zagallo was a “devoted father, loving grandfather, caring father-in-law, loyal friend, successful professional and a great person”, according to the family’s statement on Instagram, which paid tribute to the former international and father of four as a “great idol”.