Football legend Zagallo dies aged 92

Mário Jorge Lobo ZagalloO Zagallo, died this Friday, 5th, at the age of 92. The information was confirmed by the official profile of the world football legend, early this Saturday morning.

One of the biggest names in the sport, the former player and coach of the Brazilian national team is the only four-time world football champion. He directly participated in four of Brazil’s five conquests: in 1958 and 1962, as a player, in 1970, as a coach, and in 1994, as technical coordinator.

⭐️ GLORIOUS!

An idol as a player, Zagallo became a coach at @Botafogo and won the @Brasileirao 1968 before assuming the @CBF_Futebolwhere he would win the 1970 World Cup – his third, after 1958 and 1962 as a player.#ZagalloEternopic.twitter.com/5gHrIUtjZP

— Brasileirão Assaí (@Brasileirao) January 6, 2024

Zagallo also led the team in the 1974 World Cup, with fourth place, and in 1998, in runner-up. He returned to work for the national team in 2006, this time as coordinator.

Read the published note

“Note of Regret

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of our eternal four-time world champion Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo.

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.

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 the great example you leave us.”

Zagallo

Velho Lobo was born in Atalaia, a city 48 kilometers away from Maceió, capital of the state of Alagoas, on August 9, 1931. He moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family when he was just eight months old.

Zagallo grew up in the Tijuca neighborhood, in the North Zone of the city. Aroldo, his father, played professionally for CBRfrom Alagoas, and sparked the boy’s passion for football.

As a player, Zagallo began his career at América, from Rio de Janeiro. Highlighted by his good performances, he debuted in 1948 and became champion of the Torneio Início do Campeonato Carioca, his first achievement in his career.

The good performance made Flamengo invite Zagallo to try out at the club. It was in red and black that he emerged to the world. In eight years, the striker played 205 games, scored 29 goals and won the third Rio championship, from 1953 to 1955.

In 1958, Botafogo bought the left winger from their rival from Rio de Janeiro. It was defending Estrela Solitária that he won the main titles as a player: Rio-São Paulo tournament (1962 and 1964), Campeonato Carioca (1961 and 1962), as well as titles in international tours such as the Paris Tournament (1963), International Tournament in Colombia (1960) and Mexico City International Tournament (1962).

As an athlete, he retired in 1965, months before taking over as coach of Botafogo. He ended his coaching career in 2001.

Brazilian Team

In the national team, Zagallo has 36 games, 29 wins, four draws, three defeats and six goals scored as an athlete. The Old Wolf participated in the 1958 and 1962 titles.

As a coach, he has three spells, with 131 games. Including the period at the head of the Olympic Team, in 1996, there are 154 matches, with 114 wins, 28 draws and 12 defeats.

Between 1991 and 1994 and 2003 to 2006, when Brazil was coached by Carlos Alberto Parreira, he was technical coordinator. In this role, there were 96 games with 53 wins, 32 draws and 11 defeats.

List of Zagallo’s titles with the national team

Player: World Cup (1958, 1962); Bernardo O’Higgins Cup (1959, 1961); Atlantic Cup (1960); Roca Cup (1963); Oswaldo Cruz Cup (1958, 1961, 1962).

Trainer: World Cup (1970); Roca Cup (1971); Independence Cup (1972); Rous/Umbro Stanley Cup (1995); Pre-Olympic (1996); Copa América (1997); FIFA Confederations Cup (1997).

Technical coordinator: Amistad Cup (1992), World Cup (1994), Copa América (2004), Confederations Cup (2005) and Carlsberg Cup (2005).