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Mário Zagallo: During the World Cup final against France on 12 July 1998, the Brazil coach was on the sidelines

Photo: Gabriel Bouys / AFP

Brazilian football legend Mário Zagallo has died. Through his Instagram account, it was announced that Zagallo had died at the age of 92. Zagallo is the first footballer to win the World Cup both as a player (1958, 1962) and as a coach (1970). Zagallo later served as assistant coach to Carlos Alberto Parreira as Brazil won their fourth World Cup title in the United States in 1994.

"It is with great regret that we announce the passing of our eternal world champion Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo," it reads on Instagram: "A devoted father, loving grandfather, caring father-in-law, loyal friend, victorious professional and a great person. Giant idol. A patriot who leaves us a legacy of great success." Brazilian football will never forget one of the "greatest legends", according to the Brazilian federation CBF.

Zagallo, born in Maceió in 1931, moved with his family to Rio de Janeiro when he was a young child. It was here that he discovered his love for football, playing as a midfielder and left winger for the big clubs of Rio: América FC, Flamengo and Botafogo FR. With his teams, he won the Rio State Championship five times.

At the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, Zagallo played in a team with the legendary Garrincha and Pelé, who was only 17 years old at the time. "I was 27 and Pele was 17," Zagallo later recalled, "so I never say that I played alongside him, but that he played alongside me." Zagallo scored a goal in the 5-2 win over Sweden in the final. At the World Cup in Chile four years later, Zagallo also made six appearances and stood out above all for his defensive work, which was unusually committed for a winger.

World Champion Coach 1970

At the 1970 World Cup, Zagallo coached the Brazilian team around stars such as Pelé, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tostão – one of the best national teams in history. The team won Brazil's third World Cup in Mexico. At the 1974 World Cup in Germany, Zagallo led Brazil to fourth place, after which he worked as a club coach, also with several spells at Flamengo and Botafogo in Rio de Janeiro.

But the Seleção did not let Zagallo go. In 1994, he was assistant coach to Carlos Parreira as Brazil won their fourth World Cup in the United States. As head coach, Zagallo was runner-up with the national team in France in 1998. During the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Zagallo worked as technical director of the Seleção, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals by France.

Zagallo subsequently retired from the football business, but continued to appear in public, for example at award ceremonies, on television or at events of the Brazilian Football Federation.

"I want to thank you for everything, because I owe you a lot of what has happened in my life and with the Seleção," Pele told Zagallo on the occasion of his 90th birthday. And Brazil's star striker Ronaldo said: "I've had many important coaches, but Zagallo was without a doubt the best of them all."

Zagallo had married Alcina de Castro in 1955, and Zagallo was together with his wife until her death in 2012. They had four children.

ptz/Reuters