2024-01-06 14:20:23
Gerolykos, Mermigi, Lord of the Cup, 13th Apostle. Four nicknames that reveal the multifaceted personality of Mario Zagalo who passed away on Friday night, January 5.
The death of the 92-year-old great Brazilian was announced by his official Instagram account.
“A devoted father, loving grandfather, loving father-in-law, loyal friend, successful professional and a great human being. A giant indalma, a patriot who leaves us a legacy of great achievements,” the post reads.
A man who cried too easily, believed in superstitions and bowed to his lucky number ’13’, he combined intelligence and patriotism to become the champion of champions: the only man to win the World Cup four times and the first to lift the prized trophy as a player and as a coach. He was later emulated by Franz Beckenbauer with Germany and Didier Deschamps with France.
Of the seven World Cups in which he participated as a football player (1958, 1962) or as a coach-technical advisor, he reached the final in five.
Born on August 9, 1931 in Maceio, he made his first international appearance a few weeks before the World Cup in Sweden, in May 1958, at the age of 27. The youngest player of that team was the only 17-year-old Pele whom he had under his protection along with Zito and Zilmar. “Zagallo is like my brother,” Pele said in August 2013 on the occasion of his 82nd birthday.
A… synonymous with the Brazilian National Team
Mario Zagallo is synonymous with the Brazilian National Team. He has lived it well inside and out, in its glorious days as well as in its worst.
In the 1950 World Cup, the then 19-year-old Zagallo, wearing olive tracksuit, boots and cap, offered his services as a member of security in the “final” with Uruguay that turned into a “Maracanazo” and caused depression in an entire nation.
As a footballer he played as a left winger. He started in America and had a career at Flamengo and Botafogo. He was nothing special compared to his famous teammates, Pele, Didi, Garrinza, but he was the first to turn and mark in midfield and in defense, which made him valuable to his coaches.
On his arrival in Sweden he noticed that in front of the hotel in Brazil there were all the flags of the participants outside his country. He complained to the manager only to be informed later that instead of the Brazilian flag they had placed the Portuguese flag.
“They thought our capital was Buenos Aires! That’s why I say: football offered Brazil more than any embassy”, he has declared in the magazine Aventurasn a Historia.
In the late 1950s sports chroniclers “stuck” the nickname “Ant” to him. He was fast and lean and never tired.
In 1970, at the age of just 39, he became the youngest coach of the Brazilian National Team. His appointment was made on the orders of President Medici who had previously sacked left winger Joao Saldana for refusing to obey his orders and call up centre-forward Dario.
Zagalo’s critics argue that he took over a super team. His friends argue by highlighting the innovations he brought to the Seleção. After all, he was the first to implement the 5-3-2 system which was converted into 3-5-2.
He also managed to find space for talents such as Zerson, Rivellino, Zairzinho, Tostao and Pele to compete at the same time. Another of his innovations was the shift of Wilson Piazza from midfield to the center of defense, creating an impenetrable wall.
After the triumph in Mexico came fourth place in the 1974 World Cup, as a result of which he retired from the Seleção bench. He was called up again, as Carlos Alberto Pereira’s technical advisor for the 1994 World Cup, winning the famous cup for the fourth time.
He then succeeded Pereira and led Brazil to the 1998 final. Unfortunately for the proactive Zagallo, the final was played on July 12 rather than the following day, on his favorite 13, and Brazil were beaten 3-0 by Zidane and co. .
His superstitions were so strong especially with the number 13 that he made sure to get married on June 13, he lived on the 13th floor and his car had plates with the number 13. In his first World Cup, in 1958, there was also 13: 5+8= 13.
As coach of Botafogo, in 1967 he won his first title: 6+7=13. But also in the victorious 1994 World Cup there was 13: 9+3=13. The name of Roberto Baggio, who missed the penalties in that final, also has 13 letters. And as Zagalo used to say, “Brasil campeão” (Brazil champion) also consists of 13 letters.
Zizou, who eliminated the Seleção with the Blues in the quarter-finals of the World Cup 2006, was again responsible for his swan song. Zagalo, who was then a technical advisor, said goodbye to his beloved Brazil National Team forever.
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