On the death of Mario Zagallo
The genius who liked 13 letter sentences
January 6, 2024, 8:07 p.m
Brazil mourns the loss of the legendary Mario Zagallo – the only man to have had his hand on the World Cup trophy four times. In his long life he experienced the original catastrophe of football and later brought the Selecao into the modern era.
Mario Zagallo was in the front row for the original disaster in Brazilian football. He would become a magician, a charismatic and a professor, a mentor, a style-defining icon with four World Cup titles – but in 1950, as a military policeman, he saw his heroes throw the cursed trophy into Uruguay’s lap in front of 200,000 spectators. “I have never forgotten the sadness and the silence in the Maracana,” he said 70 years later.
Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo died on Friday at the age of 92. Brazil is in mourning; the elderly feel as if they have to say goodbye to a life companion. “It is with enormous sadness that we announce the death of our eternal four-time world champion,” said the family: “A devoted father, loving grandfather, a loyal friend, glorious professional and great human being.”
Zagallo and Ronaldo.
(Photo: imago images/Pro Shots)
To understand Zagallo’s importance, in Germany one can only draw a comparison with Franz Beckenbauer, one of three people who became world champions as players and coaches – alongside Zagallo himself and Didier Deschamps. Pele, who died at the end of 2022 and for whom Zagallo was once “like a big brother,” once said: “Of everything I did for Brazil, maybe 50 percent belongs to him.”
“Green and gold have never left me”
When Pele’s star rose in 1958, Zagallo was 26 and bursting down the left flank. “I was thoughtful, clever,” he said in a documentary on his 90th birthday, tapping his forehead. In the World Cup final against Sweden (5:2) he scored the fourth goal and set up the fifth for Pele.
Despite all his talent, it was his job to let others shine. He was Pele’s security, the one who also worked backwards. He triumphed in 1958 with the bow-legged Garrincha, Didi and Vava, and he won in Chile in 1962 alongside Nilton Santos and Amarildo. Pele was injured.
Where other careers would have ended, Mario Zagallo’s continued for decades. He became a coach. “Green and gold,” the colors of Brazil, he says, “have never left me.” The Selecao had given up their white uniforms after the “Maracanazo” of 1950. She was tainted.
At Botafogo, Zagallo recommended himself for the highest coaching position in the country; he led Brazil to a height that thrilled the world. The 1970 World Cup team, with Pele, Jairzinho, Rivellino, Carlos Alberto, Clodoaldo, Tostao, probably played the most beautiful football ever. “I have completely changed this team,” said Zagallo, he led the Selecao from the old 4-2-4 system into the modern era: “That will always be remembered.”
The throbbing artery
In 1974, Brazil finished fourth in Germany, Zagallo vacated the chair and, well, he hustled his way through. He coached Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – and again and again clubs from Rio de Janeiro, although he came from Maceio, several hundred kilometers north. It is said that he actually wanted to become a pilot, but his eyesight was too bad.
“O velho lobo” (“The Old Wolf”) has never lost his eye and, above all, his feeling for football. He became technical director and went to the 1994 World Cup as Carlos Alberto Parreira’s assistant. He was furious when he screamed into the camera with his throbbing artery and counted down the games until the title. Brazil won again – with Romario, Bebeto and Ronaldo, who says: “I had many coaches, but he was the greatest.”
In the museum of the Brazilian national team, Mario Zagallo stands as a wax figure in a typical pose, in a blue tracksuit, with his hands on his hips. The “Professor” was already in a wheelchair at the unveiling and held up his jersey with the legendary number 13, which he was obsessed with. He married on the 13th, he liked living on the 13th floor – and he loved sentences with 13 letters. “Zagallo is dead”: This sad sentence has 13 letters.