The four-time world champion, Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo, legend of the Brazilian national team, died last Friday, January 5, 2024, at the age of 92. As a footballer he won two titles and gained two more on the bench, as a coach and as a technical assistant. “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our all-time four-time world champion.”they noted on the former athlete's social networks.
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The eminence of Brazilian football, nicknamed “Old Wolf”, attended the inauguration of the Canarinha Sweden 1958 j Chile 1962in addition to lifting the trophy Mexico 1970 as DT and in United States 1994 as scratch coordinator.
Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), declared seven days of mourning for the star's death: “The CBF and Brazilian football mourn the loss of one of their greatest legends, Mário Zagallo. The CBF stands in solidarity with him. “Family and fans in this moment of regret at the departure of an idol of our football,” it said.
Who was Mario Zagallo?
“Lobo” comes from the state of Alagoas, was born on August 9, 1931 and worked as a striker. He made his debut with AmericaClub from Rio de Janeiro in 1948, then moved to Flamengo 1949 a squad in which he played until 1958; Afterwards it was signed by Botafogoa team he defended until 1965. He is considered an idol by the Black Roosters as they have a statue of him at the entrance to the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium.
When it came to Verdeamarela, Zagallo always showed his love. “My passion for the national team began when I had neither players nor a coach. I could never get yellow out of my head,” he commented. His first assignment was as a coach in Vicente Feola's squad before the 1958 World Cup. The rest is history.