Mario Zagallo

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Lore & Background

Zagallo started his football career in the youth sector of América, before joining Flamengo in 1950. He helped the club win three consecutive titles in the Campeonato Carioca between 1953 and 1955. In 1958, he joined Botafogo, becoming part of a team that included Garrincha, Nilton Santos and Didi. He helped the side win two titles in the Torneio Rio–São Paulo and two in the Campeonato Carioca, representing Botafogo until his retirement in 1965. He won a total of 33 caps for Brazil between 1958 and 1964, scoring five goals. In 1958, he was included in the squad for the World Cup in Sweden; following an injury to Pepe, he was promoted to the starting XI and scored a goal in the final as Brazil claimed their first world title. He was also part of the squad that won the 1962 World Cup in Chile, starting in all of Brazil's matches.

In Their Own Story

As a young man, Zagallo committed to complete his military service in the Brazilian Army and was notably deployed at the Maracanã Stadium when Uruguay defeated Brazil in the 1950 World Cup decisive match. In 1966, he started his managerial career at Botafogo. He was appointed manager of the Brazil national team shortly before the start of the 1970 FIFA World Cup and led the Seleção to their third title, becoming the first person to win the World Cup both as a player and as a manager. At age 38, he became the second youngest coach to win the title, behind only Alberto Suppici. At the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, Brazil was eliminated by the Netherlands after a 2–0 loss in which Luís Pereira was sent off, and Poland defeated Brazil in the third-place playoff. In 1989, he led the United Arab Emirates to their first qualification for the 1990 World Cup. He returned to Brazil as a coordinator and assistant coach, helping the side win the 1994 World Cup. He then managed Brazil again, winning the 1997 Copa América by defeating hosts Bolivia 3–1 in the final. After the match, he is remembered for his emotional outburst into the television cameras, stating: 'You're going to have to put up with me!' Later that year he also won the Confederations Cup with Brazil, defeating Australia 6–0 in the final.

Reader's Guide

Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo holds the record for FIFA World Cup titles in general with four titles in total. He also holds the record for World Cup finals with five participations. He won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962 as a player, in 1970 as manager, and in 1994 as assistant manager. He 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 each more than once. In 1992, Zagallo received the FIFA Order of Merit, the highest honour awarded by FIFA, for his contributions to football. He was named the ninth greatest manager of all time by World Soccer Magazine in 2013. On 5 January 2024, Zagallo died at the age of 92. He was the last surviving Brazilian player who participated in the 1958 World Cup final, and his death left Amarildo as the last surviving Brazilian player of the 1962 final.

Did You Know?

• Zagallo was the last surviving Brazilian player who participated in the 1958 World Cup final.
• He was deployed at the Maracanã Stadium as a young soldier when Uruguay defeated Brazil in the 1950 World Cup decisive match.
• He received the nickname 'Formiguinha' ('Little Ant') due to his characteristics and skills as a player.
• He was the second youngest coach to win the World Cup, at age 38, behind only Alberto Suppici.
• Zagallo led the United Arab Emirates to their first World Cup qualification in 1990.