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RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Mario Zagallo, who won two World Cups with Brazil as a player, once as a coach and once as an assistant coach, has died. He was 92 years old.
Zagallo, the first player and manager to win the World Cup, is synonymous with patriotism, grit and glory for many Brazilian soccer fans.
Brazilian Football Confederation President Edonardo Rodríguez said in a statement early Saturday acknowledging Zagallo’s death that he was “one of the sport’s greatest legends.”
The cause of death has not been disclosed by the federation or family.
“We express our solidarity with his family and fans at this time of sadness at the passing of one of our football’s greatest heroes,” Rodriguez said. Several Brazilian clubs where Zagallo played and coached also expressed sadness over his death.
Zagallo’s social media channels called him a “devoted father, loving grandfather, caring father-in-law, loyal friend, winning professional, and great human being.”
“A huge hero. A patriot who left a great legacy for us,” the statement added, without providing details about Zagallo’s death.
One of the most charismatic and superstitious figures in Brazilian football, he is known for his penchant for wearing the number 13 jersey and for his constant use of the phrase “I’ll have to put up with it” loudly in response to his critics. It was known.
He said 13 is a lucky number because it includes the last two digits of his birth year, 1931. He always emphasized that there was some connection, even if coincidental, between the number 13 and success in football.
Zagallo played a role in almost every major chapter in Brazilian soccer history, from the country’s first World Cup victory in 1958 to the 2014 tournament. Former Brazil coach Titi visited Zagallo to hear advice before taking the team to his 2018 and his 2022 World Cups. cup.
He was a forward for Brazil when they won the World Cup in Sweden in 1958 and Chile in 1962, and was one of the first players to operate as a false winger, playing between midfielder and striker. was.
Zagallo stopped playing professionally in 1965 and began his coaching career at Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro the following year.
He was appointed national team manager in 1970, just before the Mexico World Cup, taking over a team that included Pele, Jairzinho, Gerson, Roberto Rivellino and Tostão. Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 in the final, becoming the first team in history to win the tournament three times in a row.
He also coached Brazil in 1974, but the team without Pele finished in fourth place.
Zagallo was an assistant coach to Carlos Alberto Parreira when Brazil won the 1994 World Cup in the United States, defeating Italy again in the final.
Four years later, he took charge again at the World Cup in France, but in the final, Brazil lost 3-0 to the hosts after striker Ronaldo suffered an unexplained seizure before the match. Zagallo was criticized for letting Ronaldo play.
“He was cleared by the doctors to play,” Zagallo said. “Anyone in my position would have done the same. I had no intention of preventing him from playing in the World Cup final.”
His last coaching role with the national team was in 2006 as Parreira’s assistant. Brazil were the pre-tournament favorites to win the World Cup in Germany for the sixth time. However, the team led by Ronaldinho, Kaka, Ronaldo and Adriano lost to France in the quarter-finals.
Zagallo was one of the few successful managers to manage all four of Rio’s traditional clubs (Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo and Vasco da Gama).
He started his career as a striker in the United States in Rio and later also played for Flamengo and Botafogo. Botafogo were one of the few Brazilian clubs to rival Pele’s Santos in the 1960s.
Zagallo underwent stomach surgery in 2005 and was hospitalized for more than a month.
Four years ago, he was treated for arrhythmia while managing Flamengo.
He spent 12 days in hospital with a back infection just before the 2014 World Cup, but was released in time to watch the opening match. He served as an ambassador for that tournament.
Zagallo was hospitalized for 22 days last August due to a urinary tract infection. He returned to his home in Rio and was photographed in his wheelchair.
“We are stronger than ever!” he said in a post on his social media channels, concluding with his career motto. “You have to put up with me!”
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Tales Azzoni reported from Spain. Follow Tales His Azzoni on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tazzoni
AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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