Zagallo, who died on Friday, was the one surviving member of the Brazilian crew that lifted the 1958 World Cup trophy, the nation's first title and a title that eased the ache of a traumatic defeat to Uruguay eight years earlier within the Maracana.
“I used to be on the Maracana for that fateful loss towards Uruguay. I used to be a soldier and my job was to maintain folks off the sphere,” Zagallo mentioned, describing a consequence that sparked nationwide mourning.
“I’ll always remember the silence, the unhappiness and the frustration of that defeat,” he famous.
His legendary teammate Pele died in December 2022.
Whereas that reminiscence remained vivid, Zagallo would do his utmost to ease the concern by leaving his fingerprints on 4 of Brazil's 5 World Cup victories.
A diminutive left winger who emerged from the newbie ranks within the Nineteen Fifties, Zagallo epitomized Brazil's quest to mix attacking aptitude with defensive toughness, combining his excellent approach with admirable dedication.
He gained 5 state championships in Rio de Janeiro with Flamengo and Botafogo. He solely made his Brazil debut on the age of 26, shortly earlier than the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, however grew to become an integral member of the crew, successful 37 caps.
Brazil's success
The event, which launched 17-year-old sensation Pele onto the world stage, ended with Brazil beating the hosts 5-2 within the last. Zagallo scored his crew's fourth after which arrange Pele for the ultimate objective.
4 years later, Zagallo performed each minute as Garrincha-inspired Brazil overcame an damage suffered by Pele within the group levels to retain the crown, coming from behind to beat Czechoslovakia 3–1 in Santiago.
After retiring, Zagallo returned to the sport as a supervisor, taking on former membership Botafogo and main them to 2 extra state titles in a rustic underneath a navy dictatorship.
Joao Saldanha had led the nationwide crew to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, however was sidelined earlier than the event in favor of Zagallo. Saldanha fell out with Pele and refused to bow to then-president Emilio Garrastazu Medici's calls for over squad choice, and as a identified communist sympathizer, his destiny was sealed.
Zagallo, then simply 38, inherited an exceptionally gifted squad – together with Pele, Carlos Alberto, Jairzinho and Rivelino – and oversaw six wins from six matches as Brazil lifted the title for the third time in 4 makes an attempt.
Zagallo was years forward of his time as a participant and rapidly confirmed his deserves as a coach. He later mirrored on the legendary 1970 World Cup, dominated by a spectacular Brazilian efficiency, as his “biggest reminiscence as a supervisor”.
A counter-intuitive sort who believed in quantity 13, Zagallo's undiminished thirst for achievement noticed him additional home titles with Fluminense and Flamengo earlier than venturing overseas to Kuwait, the place he gained the 1976 Gulf Cup and reached the ultimate of the Asian Cup that yr.
Tireless pursuit of glory
After bringing the United Arab Emirates to Italy in 1990, Zagallo was known as up by Brazil one final time as technical director for the 1994 World Cup in the USA.
Collectively along with his protégé, Carlos Alberto Perreira, he guided the crew to a different world title after a boring last towards Italy led to a penalty shootout.
His fifth success fell agonizingly brief in 1998 when Ronaldo, the preeminent participant of his era, suffered a mysterious seizure earlier than the ultimate and Brazil slumped to a 3-0 defeat by hosts France.
Zagallo's sturdiness and enduring presence made him a pure option to fill in briefly for the departed Luiz Felipe Scolari after Brazil's fifth World Cup win in 2002.
“He was one of many biggest Brazilian gamers of his era and after successful the World Cup 4 instances, he left a long-lasting mark on Brazilian soccer,” Ronaldo mentioned of the person nicknamed “The Professor”.
His spouse of 57 years, Alcina de Castro, died in 2012.
AFP