This Saturday, the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) mourned the death of Mario Zagallo, “a mythical figure in Brazilian and international football,” expressing “sincere condolences” to the family of the four-time world champion.
“Known with respect and affection by everyone, he was a mythical figure in Brazilian and international football. The FPF regrets the death of Mario Zagallo and expresses sincere condolences to his family and friends,” the federation’s official website says.
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.
Apart from being the first to win two World Cups as a player in 1958 and 1962, and then as a coach in 1970, Zagallo is the only one to have appeared in five World Cup finals before this Saturday, of which he lost only one match against France in 1998 as a selector.
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.
This Saturday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) declared seven days of mourning in Brazilian football due to the death of Mario Zagallo, whom it called “the greatest world champion of all time” and “an idol for several generations.”
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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