Brazilian footballer and coach Mario Zagallo is the only person who has four times become world champion. Twice he won the title as a player, twice as a coach. Under his leadership, the teams of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, as well as the Brazilian team and national clubs of the country won.
In the history of football, Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo will remain as one of the most successful Brazilian coaches. He was a player in the national team, which in 1958 became the first in the world for the first time.
Way to Vocation
The biography of the future celebrity began in 1931. The child was born in Maceio on August 9. The short guy from an early age was remarkable for his amazing ability to football. The family did not take seriously the wishes for a sports career. Father dreamed of seeing his son as an accountant. After school, Mario decided to receive an appropriate education.
However, the vocation did its job. Breeders paid attention to the guy who played in amateur clubs. They were attracted by speed and amazing technique. Zagello signed his first professional contract with the Flamengo club in 1950.
Due to the ability of a great game on their flank and the accurate cross or canopy into the penalty area, Mario was determined to play on the left edge of the attack. The discreet style of the novice was distinguished by the masterly refinement of his technique. The athlete played not only himself. He also helped his defenders by receiving the nickname Ant or Forgiminha for this.
Mario did not strive for the laurels of Garrinchi, able to beat half of the opposing team, scoring fantastically spectacular goals alone. He, as a player of the national team, did not attract much attention of coaches who replaced each other too often. At that time, Santos footballer Pepe was recognized as the best leftmost. The public adored him for extraordinary feints.
Confession
It was Pepe who represented the country with the team at the 1954 world championship. The game ended with the Brazilian defeat from the Hungarians in the quarterfinals. The new coach of the team in the spring of 1958 was Vesente Feola. On the eve of the match under his leadership, Pepe was injured on the field could not go.
Instead, Mario played. Very soon, the debutant turned for Feola into one of the key players. The trainers were completely satisfied with the industriousness and rationalism of the athlete. If the players who became stars did not obey the mentor's settings, remaining on the floor by themselves, then this was what ensured all the failures of the national team.
Zagallo understood the coach perfectly. And he acted according to the tactical plans of the mentor. To the world championship Theola predestined a special role for Zagallo. With the loss of the ball, the hard left extreme turned into a third midfielder to strengthen the center of the field. Mario also quickly raided enemies on the right edge of the opponent’s defense.
The ease and artistry of the game at the 1958 World Cup shocked the world. The national team won its first champion title. The star of the famous Pele has risen. Mario made a significant contribution to the approach of a common victory. It was he who scored the decisive goal in the final match, he also provided Pele and a fantastic pass for the fifth goal.
Becoming a world champion, Zagallo in 1958 moved to the Botafogo club. He remained faithful to the new team for life. And in 1960, Feola stepped down as national coach. Pepe again came first. The team only in 1962, for the world championship, again included Mario.
New facets of talent
Aimore Moreira presented the same roster in Chile that he won the championship in 1958. It was Zagallo who provided the first goal to the fellow players, the only one left in the meeting. Only one match ended in a draw, the rest were won. Again, the Brazilian national team received the title of the strongest on the planet.
Twice the champion again represented the national team in 1964. However, he had a chance to play the only match. Returning as a coach, Feola decided to prepare a new team for the 1966 championship. Age Zagallo did not fit into her. His career in the national team ended in 1965.
In 1967, he left Botafogo as a player to lead the club in coaching status. For the first time in that period, he was invited to lead the national team in a friendly match with Chile, won by the Brazilians. In 1968, Mario defeated Argentina again with his footballers. The contract twice Zagallo won the state championship, and in 1970 brought the national team to the world championship in Mexico. By that time, Mario had already earned a reputation as an amazingly lucky mentor.
As a skilled strategist, Zagallo did not change anything in the team created by his predecessor. And again, the Brazilian national team won the title of best in the world in 1970.
