Mario Zagallo Dies: When Brazil Legend Said His Football Career Was an Accident

• Brazil football legend Mario Zagallo has passed away aged 92
• The late Zagallo was part of the iconic Brazil squad that won back to back World Cups
• Brazil’s Football Federation has declared seven days of mourning

The Brazilian football fraternity is in mourning after the passing of a legend of the game Mario Zagallo.

Zagallo, who won the World Cup four times as a player and coach, passed away at the age of 92, with his death being confirmed on Saturday, January 6 in an emotional statement.

“It is with great regret that we announce the passing of our eternal world champion Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo,” a statement on the late’s Instagram read.

“A devoted father, loving grandfather, caring father-in-law, faithful friend, victorious professional and a great human being. Giant idol. A patriot who leaves us a legacy of great achievements.”

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Befittingly, the Brazilian Football Federation has declared seven days of mourning for a legend considered one of the best players Brazil has ever produced in the history of football.

According to The Athletic, Zagallo, who played as a forward, won back to back World Cups in 1958 and 1962. Not only was he part of the squad, but he also played in both finals; an indication that he was a key member of the winning team.

Once he transitioned into management, he experienced success as well, as he was assistant coach of the Brazilian team when they won the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Before that, in 1970, Zagallo guided Brazil to World Cup glory, becoming the first person to win the coveted trophy as a player and manager.

Zagallo's 'accidental' football career

As reported in The Mirror, Zagallo’s rise in football was not straight forward.

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The late Brazilian legend once revealed that he had ambitions to become a pilot, but had to abandon those dreams due to poor eyesight.

"My father didn't want me to be a football player, he wouldn't let me,” Zagallo once said in an interview.

He went on, "Back then it wasn't a profession that was respected, society didn't look kindly on it. That's why I say football came into my life by accident."

Zagallo’s professional career

Zagallo made his Brazil debut aged 26, eight years after watching his nation get stunned by Uruguay in the 1950 edition of the tournament.

Being nine years older than the legendary Pele, Zagallo played second fiddle to his younger counterpart early on, but got his opportunity when Pele suffered an injury in the 1962 World Cup.

At club level, he played for clubs in his native Brazil, including Flamengo and Botafogo before retiring in 1965.

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His transition into football management came with instant success as he replaced Joao Saldanha as Brazil coach shortly before the 1970 World Cup.

Known as “The Professor”, Zagallo was tactically masterful as he masterminded a formidable Brazil team that won all six games in the tournament, including a 4-1 win over Italy in the final.

He also managed several other nations including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates