Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo was born on August 9, 1931 at Atalaia, Alagoas, Brazil. He was a Brazillian professional football player and coordinater and a manager. His professional career started at 17 in 1948. The first-ever player in football’s history to win the World Cup in both roles. The Brazilian forward had an incredible career as a player and coach. Here are the Lobo Zagallo Football Career Highlights.

Playing Career

Youth Career

Here is the Lobo Zagallo’s Football Career Highlights in young age for Brazil. He started his playing career at 17. He played with Brazilian Club America for a year since his debut and then with Flamengo for a year. These clubs summarize his youth career..

Senior Career

Here are Lobo Zagallo Football Career Highlights. the Zagall’s senior career started with Flamengo, played for six years, from 1951 to 1958. Later, he joined Botafago the same year and played till his retirement as a player from his international career in 1965. 

International Career

Here is Lobo Zagallo Football Career Highlights in International football for Brazil. Mario Zagallo’s International Career started in 1958, the first time he appeared in the World Cup, and Brazil won that, too. Also, Brazil won the Football World Cup in 1962 while Zagallo was playing with the national team. He won 33 caps for Brazil in his short yet incredible career. He was also the first player to participate in 6 World Cup finals. 

Managerial Career

Zagallo spent 40 years of his life as a manager. We have covered all the details along with tenure:

• Botafogo (1966-1970)
• Brazil (1967-1968)
• Brazil (1970-1974)

(Zagallo won the World Cup in 1970 as a manager for Brazil)

• Fluminense (1971-1972)
• Flamengo (1972-1974)
• Botafogo (1978)
• Kuwait ( 1976-1978)
• Botafogo (1978)
• Al Hilal (1979)
• Vasco da Gama (1980-1981)
• Saudi Arabia (1981-1984)
• Flamengo (1984-1985)
• Botafogo (1986-1987)
• Bangu (1988-1989)
• United Arab Emirates (1989-1990)
• Vasco da Gama (1990-1991)
• Brazil (1991-1994) (Co-Ordinator)

(Zagallo was the assistant coach when Brazil won the World Cup in 1994)

• Brazil (1994-1998)
• Portuguesa (1999)
• Flamengo (2000-2001)
• Brazil (2002) (caretaker)
• Brazil (2003-2006) (coordinator)

Zagallo’s Nicknames

Due to his increbile performances Zagallo got many nicknames in Football World which became part of Lobo Zagallo Football Career Highlights. He was nicknamed “Formiguinha,” which means the little ant because of his style and amazing stamina. Zagallo was nicknamed “The Professor” by players during his coaching career. Also, he got a nickname named “Velho Lobo”(meaning Old Wolf) due to his surname, “Lobo” (meaning Wolf).  

Honours as a Player

Mario Zagallo has been awarded many awards in his career, proving his exceptional footballing strategies. 

Flamengo

Zagallo was honored to play in “Rio de Janeiro State Championship” in 1953, 1954, and 1955 for Flamengo. 

Botafogo

The Brazilian forward was honored with the “Rio de Janeiro State Championship” in 1961 and 1962 while playing for Botafogo. He also got to play in “The Rio-São Paulo Tournament” in 1962 and 1964 for Botafogo. 

Brazil

Lobo Zagallo Football Career Highlights and his incrideble performance increase the level of repect for him. The late legendary footballer was included in Brazil’s National Football Team in 1958 and 1962 for FIFA World Cup. He was also included by FIFA in the “World Cup Star Team” in 1962. Also, he was honored to be added to the “Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame” due to his contributions to his country. 

In 1992, Zagallo was honored with the highest honor of FIFA, i.e., the FIFA Order of Merit, due to his contributions to football. 

Health Issues

Zagallo was facing health issues from the age of 90. In 2022, he was admitted to a hospital for treatment for a respiratory infection. In 2023, Zagallo was again admitted to a hospital for a few days, facing a urinary infection. After multiple visits due to increasing health problems, the legendary footballer died on January 05, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His family announced his death, and the cause was multiple organ failure. He died at the age of 92. 

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazilian President, has declared national mourning for three days on Zagallo’s death. He was a legendary footballer and a national hero. Mario Zagallo was the last surviving player of the World Cup-winning team of 1958. Brzail was blessed with many Football legends and Zagallo is one of them.

Conclusion

The legendary footballer was known for their technical skills and his high defensive work rate. Zagallo was the first player to win four World Cups, two as a player in 1958 and 1962, as Brazil’s manager in 1970, and one as Brazil’s assistant coach in 1994. The world-class footballer will always live in football fans’ hearts. Here are the Lobo Zagallo Football Career Highlights.