Brazil is in mourning after one of the country’s most iconic former players and managers died at the age of 92. 

The national treasure had been taken ill over Christmas and was hospitalised in Rio de Janeiro before he died on Friday. His passing means that there are now no members of the iconic 1958 side left alive. 

Mario Zagallo would go on to win four World Cups for Brazil as either player or manager. That included managing the famed 1970 side, considered by many football fans to be the best there ever was.

As a player, Zagallo was a very talented winger who first got his hands on the World Cup by lifting it in 1958. He would go on to retain it four years later in 1962.

He turned to management after his playing career came to an end and by guiding Pele and Co to World Cup glory in 1970, Zagallo became the first person ever to win the trophy as a player and as a coach. 

Brazilian icon Mario Zagallo (right) has died aged 92 following a Christmas battle with illness

Brazilian icon Mario Zagallo (right) has died aged 92 following a Christmas battle with illness

Brazilian icon Mario Zagallo (right) has died aged 92 following a Christmas battle with illness

Zagallo became the first football figure ever to win the World Cup as a player and a manager

Zagallo became the first football figure ever to win the World Cup as a player and a manager

Zagallo became the first football figure ever to win the World Cup as a player and a manager

Zagallo, pictured in 2002, enjoyed rich success both as a player and then later as a coach

Zagallo, pictured in 2002, enjoyed rich success both as a player and then later as a coach

Zagallo, pictured in 2002, enjoyed rich success both as a player and then later as a coach

Announcing news via social media, a family statement read: ‘It is with great regret that we announce the passing of our eternal world champion Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo.

‘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.

‘We thank God for the time we were able to spend with you and we ask the Father that we find comfort in the good memories and the great example you leave us.’

Zagallo, who won his fourth World Cup in 1992, was known in Brazil for being highly superstitious and believed the No 13 brought him luck. 

He liked to coin phrases that contained 13 letters; he got married on the 13th of the month, and once even joked he would retire from the game at 13:00 on July 13, 2013.

Zagallo, affectionately nicknamed ‘the Old Wolf’, was born in August 1931 and soon fell in love with football, despite seeing his original dream of being an airline pilot abandoned because of poor eyesight. 

‘My father didn’t want me to be a football player, he wouldn’t let me,’ Zagallo once said in an interview published by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). 

He was highly superstitious and loved the No 13, but he held iconic status in his native Brazil

He was highly superstitious and loved the No 13, but he held iconic status in his native Brazil

He was highly superstitious and loved the No 13, but he held iconic status in his native Brazil

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‘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.’

He started off as a left midfielder, wearing the No 10 shirt, which back then, before Pele, had not yet assumed the significance it has today. But intuition told him he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

‘I saw it would be hard to get into the Brazil side wearing the No. 10 shirt as there were lots of great players in that position,’ he said. ‘So I moved from left midfield to left wing.’

His first World Cup came in Sweden in 1958, where he started all six matches and played alongside Garrincha and Pele, who was then just 17.

‘I was 27 and Pele was 17,’ he said. ‘That’s why I say that I never played with him, but that he played with me.’

Zagallo married in 1955 to Alcina de Castro and remained with her until her death in 2012. The couple had four children. 

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