Mário Zagallo

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In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Lobo and the second or paternal family name is Zagallo.

Mário Zagallo
Zagallo in 1974
Personal information
Full name Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo
Date of birth (1931-08-09)9 August 1931
Place of birth Atalaia, Alagoas, Brazil
Date of death 5 January 2024(2024-01-05) (aged 92)
Place of death Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Inside forward, left winger
Youth career
1948–1949 America
1950–1951 Flamengo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1951–1958 Flamengo 217 (30)
1958–1965 Botafogo 115 (46)
Total 332 (76)
International career
1958–1964 Brazil 33 (5)
Managerial career
1966–1970 Botafogo
1967–1968 Brazil
1970–1974 Brazil
1971–1972 Fluminense
1972–1974 Flamengo
1975 Botafogo
1976–1978 Kuwait
1978 Botafogo
1979 Al-Hilal
1980–1981 Vasco da Gama
1981–1984 Saudi Arabia
1984–1985 Flamengo
1986–1987 Botafogo
1988–1989 Bangu
1989–1990 United Arab Emirates
1990–1991 Vasco da Gama
1991–1994 Brazil (coordinator)
1994–1998 Brazil
1999 Portuguesa
2000–2001 Flamengo
2002 Brazil (caretaker)
2003–2006 Brazil (coordinator)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Brazil (as player)
FIFA World Cup
Winner 1958 Sweden
Winner 1962 Chile
South American Championship
Runner-up 1959 Argentina
Representing  Brazil (as coordinator)
FIFA World Cup
Winner 1994 USA


Representing  Brazil (as manager)
FIFA World Cup
Winner 1970 Mexico
Runner-up 1998 France
Copa América
Winner 1997 Bolivia
Runner-up 1995 Uruguay
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner 1997 Saudi Arabia
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up 1996 USA
Bronze medal – third place 1998 USA
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta Team
Representing  Kuwait (as manager)
AFC Asian Cup
Runner-up 1976 Iran
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈmaɾju zaˈɡalu]; 9 August 1931 – 5 January 2024) was a Brazilian professional football player, coordinator and manager, who played as a forward.

Zagallo holds the record for World Cup titles in general with four titles in total. He also holds the record for World Cup finals with six participations. He was the first person to win the FIFA World Cup as both a manager and as a player, winning the competition in 1958 and 1962 as a player and in 1970 as manager.[1] In addition, he won the 1994 FIFA World Cup as assistant manager. Zagallo also coached Brazil in 1974 (finishing fourth) and in 1998 (finishing as runners-up) and was a technical assistant in 2006. He was the first of three men, along with Germany's Franz Beckenbauer and France's Didier Deschamps to have won the World Cup as a player and as a manager, and the only one who had done it more than twice.

In 1992, Zagallo received the FIFA Order of Merit, the highest honour awarded by FIFA, for his contributions to football.[2] He was named the 9th Greatest Manager of All Time by World Soccer Magazine in 2013.[3][4] On 5 January 2024, Zagallo died at the age of 92.[5] He was the last surviving Brazilian player who participated in the 1958 World Cup final.

Early life[edit]

Zagallo was born in Atalaia, in the northeastern state of Alagoas, and later moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family when he was still eight months old.[6] As a young man, he committed to complete his military service in the Brazilian Army; he was notably deployed at the Maracanã Stadium when Uruguay defeated Brazil in the 1950 World Cup final.[6][7]

Playing career[edit]

Zagallo during his playing spell at Botafogo

Zagallo started his football career in the youth sector of América,[5] before joining Flamengo in 1950;[8][9] having turned professional and established himself within the Mengão's first team, he helped the club win three consecutive titles in the Campeonato Carioca between 1953 and 1955.[5][7][8]

In 1958, Zagallo joined Botafogo,[7][10] and eventually became a part of a team that included several other regular starters of the Brazilian national team, such as Garrincha, Nilton Santos and Didi.[7][10] He went on to help the side win two titles in the Torneio Rio–São Paulo,[9] as well as two in the Campeonato Carioca,[9][10] and represented O Fogo until his retirement in 1965.[5][11]

Zagallo won a total of 33 caps for the Brazil senior national team between 1958 and 1964, scoring five goals.[12]

In 1958, he was included by manager Vicente Feola in the Brazilian squad for the FIFA World Cup in Sweden:[7] following an injury to Pepe, he was promoted to the starting XI,[7] and eventually scored a goal in the final as Brazil claimed their first world title.[5][13]

He was also a part of the squad that won the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile,[5][7] where he started in all of Brazil's matches.[7]

Style of play[edit]

Zagallo with Pelé in 1970

Player[edit]

Zagallo was a diminutive left winger with a small physique, who was known for his technical skills and his high defensive work-rate, as well as his ability to make attacking runs from deeper areas of the pitch. He was also capable of playing as a forward, either as a main striker, or as an inside forward.[14][15]

Due to his characteristics and his skills, he received the nickname Formiguinha ("Little Ant" in Portuguese).[5][7]

Manager[edit]

During his stint as Brazil's head coach, Zagallo mainly adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation; he was considered to be one of the first managers to focus on the physical preparation of his players before long-lasting tournaments, including the 1970 FIFA World Cup.[16]

He was nicknamed The Professor by his players throughout his coaching career, due to his tactical awareness and commanding presence on the bench,[15] as well as Velho Lobo ("Old Wolf") due to his surname "Lobo", which means "wolf" in Portuguese.[15]

Managerial career[edit]

In 1966, Zagallo started his managerial career at Botafogo, the club he had finished his playing career with.[10][17] He was then appointed as the manager of the Brazil national team shortly before the start of the 1970 FIFA World Cup,[7] and eventually led the Seleção to their third title.[6][16] In the process, he became the first person to win the World Cup both as a player and as a manager;[18] at the age of 38, he also became the second youngest coach to win the aforementioned title, behind only Alberto Suppici.[17]

At the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany, Zagallo was disadvantaged by the international retirement of Pelé four years earlier, as well as injuries to Tostão and Carlos Alberto Torres, meaning that only two starting players from the 1970 final were in the squad. Additionally, the team had a lack of competitive practice due to the shelving of the Copa América between 1967 and 1975. In response to Brazil being eliminated by overly physical European sides in 1954 and 1966, Zagallo chose to play in an equally aggressive way. Brazil narrowly made it through the first group stage by one goal in goal difference over Scotland, and missed out on the final after a 2–0 loss to the Netherlands, in which Luís Pereira was sent off for a foul on Johan Neeskens. Poland then defeated Brazil in the third-place playoff.[19]

In 1989, Zagallo was hired by the United Arab Emirates for their qualification campaign for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He led the amateurs to an unexpected first qualification to the tournament, but left for Vasco da Gama days before the World Cup began and was replaced by Carlos Alberto Parreira.[20]

He then returned to the Brazilian national team as a coordinator and assistant coach, and helped the side win the 1994 FIFA World Cup while serving in those roles.[6][18]

In November 2002, Zagallo came out of retirement to coach Brazil again, following Luiz Felipe Scolari's exit after winning that year's World Cup.[21] On 20 November, in his only game, the team won 3–2 in a friendly away to South Korea.[22]

Personal life[edit]

Zagallo in 2008

Zagallo married Alcina de Castro on 13 January 1955 at the Church of Capuchins in Rio de Janeiro. They remained together until de Castro's death on 5 November 2012.[23] Mário and Alcina had four children.[24] He was a practicing Catholic.[25][26]

Zagallo's surname was spelled Zagalo for most of his career, including by himself, until he told a reporter in the 1990s that his surname on his birth certificate was Zagallo. He was also the only Brazilian World Cup-winning forward to be known by his surname.[27]

In July 2022, Zagallo was admitted to hospital with a respiratory infection.[28] In August 2023, he was hospitalized for 22 days due to a urinary infection.[29] Following a brief hospitalization in Rio de Janeiro, he died on 5 January 2024 due to multiple organ failure, resulting from the exacerbation of various pre-existing comorbidities. Zagallo was aged 92.[5][30]

Managerial statistics[edit]

As of match played 20 November 2002[31]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Botafogo 16 August 1966 18 July 1970 238 85 64 89 035.71
Brazil (caretaker) 19 September 1967 19 September 1967 1 1 0 0 100.00
Brazil 22 March 1970 6 July 1974 62 42 16 4 067.74
Fluminense 5 September 1971 17 March 1972 54 28 16 10 051.85
Flamengo 24 June 1972 13 November 1974 176 88 39 49 050.00
Botafogo 1975 December 1975 21 16 3 2 076.19
Kuwait 5 February 1976 23 March 1978 31 18 7 6 058.06
Botafogo 14 September 1978 31 December 1978 29 15 9 5 051.72
Al-Hilal 5 January 1979 26 December 1979 18 12 3 3 066.67
Vasco da Gama 4 October 1980 28 May 1981 50 26 14 10 052.00
Saudi Arabia 23 February 1981 31 March 1984 37 16 9 12 043.24
Flamengo 18 December 1984 31 August 1985 56 28 17 11 050.00
Botafogo 29 December 1986 27 November 1987 87 27 35 25 031.03
Bangu 3 November 1988 27 June 1989 67 17 30 20 025.37
United Arab Emirates 2 September 1989 12 June 1990 24 4 13 7 016.67
Vasco da Gama 2 October 1990 16 May 1991 46 8 29 9 017.39
Brazil 13 December 1994 12 July 1998 74 55 13 6 074.32
Associação Portuguesa 18 July 1999 13 October 2000 102 39 27 36 038.24
Flamengo 3 March 2001 31 December 2001 65 32 11 22 049.23
Brazil (caretaker) 20 November 2002 20 November 2002 1 1 0 0 100.00
Total 1,239 558 355 326 045.04

Honours[edit]

Player[edit]

Flamengo

Botafogo

Brazil

Individual

Manager[edit]

Botafogo

Fluminense

Flamengo

Al-Hilal

Brazil

Kuwait

Coordinator[edit]

Brazil

Individual

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  • Roberto Assaf, Clóvis Martins. Campeonato carioca: 96 anos de história, 1902–1997. Irradiação Cultural (1997).
  1. ^ West, Jenna (15 July 2018). "Didier Deschamps Becomes Third to Win World Cup as Player and Manager". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 20 May 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  2. ^ "FIFA Order of Merit holders" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  3. ^ a b Jamie Rainbow (4 July 2013). "The Greatest Manager of all time". World Soccer. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  4. ^ a b Jamie Rainbow (2 July 2013). "The Greatest XI: how the panel voted". World Soccer. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Morre Zagallo, uma das lendas do futebol brasileiro". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Único tetracampeão mundial de futebol e ex-técnico da seleção: relembre a carreira de Zagallo". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lang, Jack (7 January 2024). "Zagallo was everything to Brazil - his record-setting involvement defined the national team". The Athletic. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Zagallo Eterno: o Flamengo e a Nação dão adeus ao Velho Lobo". www.flamengo.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). CR Flamengo. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Mario Zagallo" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Sambafoot. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d e f "Nota de pesar". www.botafogo.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Botafogo. 6 January 2024. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  11. ^ a b c "IDOLS: ZAGALLO". botafogo.com.br (in Portuguese). Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  12. ^ Roberto Mamrud (29 February 2012). "Appearances for Brazil National Team". Brazil – Record International Players. RSSSF. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  13. ^ "World Cup 1958: Final". Planetworldcup.com. Archived from the original on 25 October 2003. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Vicente Feola: A controversial innovator". FIFA. 8 February 2013. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  15. ^ a b c "Mario Zagallo – None hungrier than Brazil's lone wolf". FIFA. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  16. ^ a b Vickery, Tim (15 April 2020). "Brazil's 1970 World Cup squad were pioneers in physical preparation". ESPN. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "MARIO ZAGALLO (BRAZIL) 1997". iffhs.com. International Federation of Football History & Statistics. 7 April 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  18. ^ a b West, Jenna (15 July 2018). "Didier Deschamps Becomes Third to Win World Cup as Player and Manager". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 20 May 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  19. ^ Scragg, Steven (8 December 2016). "From beauty to beast: Brazil's transition from 1970 to 1974". These Football Times. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  20. ^ Tombs, Michael (30 May 2015). "UAE: A journey to the unknown at Italia 90". These Football Times. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  21. ^ "Zagallo comes out of retirement to coach Brazil". World Soccer. 5 November 2002. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  22. ^ "Brasil vence a Coréia na despedida de Zagallo: 3 x 2" [Brazil defeat South Korea on Zagallo's farewell: 3–2]. Universo Online. 20 November 2002. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Esposa de Zagallo morre no Rio | globoesporte.com". Globoesporte.globo.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  24. ^ "Zagallo recebe apoio de amigos no velório da esposa no Rio de Janeiro | globoesporte.com". Globoesporte.globo.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Folha Online - Mundo - Zagallo diz que "família católica perdeu seu irmão mais importante" - 02/04/2005". Folha.uol.com.br. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  26. ^ "Xará, Zagallo ressalta coincidências do nº 13 com o papa e lamenta: "Temos que engolir" – Futebol – $estacao.titulo". Esporte.uol.com.br. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  27. ^ Bellos, Alex (1 January 2014). Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life - Updated Edition. A&C Black. p. 236. ISBN 978-1-4088-5416-7. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Brazil great Zagallo hospitalized over respiratory infection". France 24. 27 July 2022.
  29. ^ "'Tô de volta', comemora Zagallo após ter alta médica e voltar para casa no Rio". globo.com (in Portuguese). 1 September 2023.
  30. ^ Bernardo, André (6 January 2024). "Zagallo: morre um dos símbolos do futebol brasileiro" [Zagallo: one of the symbols of Brazilian football dies]. BBC News Brasil (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Mário Zagallo - History by season". playmakerstats.com. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  32. ^ Leme de Arruda, Marcelo (12 August 2008). "Championship of Rio de Janeiro 1971". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  33. ^ Schöggl, Hans (22 April 2020). "Saudi Arabia 1978/79". RSSSF. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  34. ^ "Arabian Gulf Cup 1976". rsssf.org. Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  35. ^ "FourFourTwo named 100 greatest managers of all time" (in Russian). ua.tribuna.com. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2020.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zagallo.
World Cup-winners status
First Player and Manager
1958, '62, '70 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Oldest Living Manager
21 December 2010 – 5 January 2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Oldest Living Player
2 wins
20 March 2014 – 5 January 2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Oldest Living Player
7 November 2017 – 5 January 2024 		Succeeded by
World Cup Finals
Preceded by Oldest Living Goal-Scorer
29 June 2015 – 5 January 2024 		Succeeded by
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