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Mario Zagallo

Mario Zagallo

Name: Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo
Date of birth: 9 August 1931

The great history of Brazilian football is inextricably linked with one Mario Zagallo. The 'Professor,' as he is known to his players, is a legend not only in his homeland but in virtually every outpost of Planet Football, having played a role in four of the five FIFA World Cups TM won by the Seleçao.
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He Was My Coach

Carlos Alberto Parreira: "The players nicknamed him 'the Professor'. His presence on the bench alone was a sign of great strength and reassured the players - a sort of link between the past and the future."

    Did You Know?

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    • Zagallo once said: “I accept criticism but mockery hurts. In Germany I was elected the best coach in the world. In Brazil I'm ridiculed.”
    • Although 13 is considered unlucky by some, Zagallo passionately believed that number to be a lucky charm for him throughout his career.
    • The enduring respect Zagallo demands in Brazil is hard to ignore. Ronaldo once said: “It is a real honour for me to have worked with the man.”
    • Zagallo was the first man to win the FIFA World Cup as a player (1958 and 1962), coach (1970) and assistant coach (2002).
    • Zagallo’s bond with the FIFA World Cup™ goes back to 1950 when he was a steward at the Brazil-Uruguay final at the Maracana Stadium.

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