This Saturday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) declared seven days of mourning in Brazilian football due to the death of Mario Zagallo, “the greatest world champion of all time” and “the idol of several generations.”
“The greatest world champion of all time, revered and adored by a legion of fans, the idol of several generations, Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo passed away this Friday,” reads a note published on the official CBF website.
Former Brazilian player and coach Mario Zagallo died on Friday at the age of 92, according to the official account of the four-time world champion on the social network Instagram.
“The CBF and Brazilian football mourn the death of one of its legends, Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo. The CBF expresses its solidarity with his family and fans at this moment of sadness at the passing of this idol of our football,” said the CBF President. CBF, Ednaldo Rodriguez.
Zagallo, in addition to being the first to win two World Cups as a player, in 1958 and 1962, and then as a coach, in 1970, is the only one to date to have appeared in five World Cup finals, of of which he lost only one match to France in 1998 as coach.
In 1994 in the USA he assisted Carlos Alberto Parreira in the fourth of Brazil’s five world titles, but his “masterpiece” was the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where, newly appointed coach, he led Brazil to its third planetary coronation with a spectacular football and such stars as Pele, Jairzinho, Tostao, Gerson and Rivellino.
“The CBF declares seven days of mourning in honor of the memory of its eternal champion and strives to honor his legacy,” added Ednaldo Rodriguez.
Brazilian football’s governing body also announced that a minute’s silence will be observed in all first-round games of the Nordic Cup qualifying tournament, which begins this Saturday.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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