Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo is one of the most important names in Brazilian football history. Part of his legacy in the country is thanks to his job as head coach of the Seleção, leading the national team to the ultimate glory in all fronts.
Needless to say, Zagallo’s biggest feat as Brazil’s coach was the 1970 World Cup victory. Not only it meant the nation’s third success, but it was also special due to the way it happened.
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That year, the Old Wolf assembled a star-studded team with a powerful front five of Jairzinho, Pelé, Gérson, Tostão and Rivellino. Zagallo made them coexist and find chemistry together, leading to one of the greatest football teams of all time and an epic World Cup winning side.
Brazil were unstoppable en route to the title, winning all three group stage games before putting four past Peru, three past Uruguay and four past Italy to lift the trophy. With that triumph, Zagallo became the first to win the World Cup both as a player and a coach.
Não faltou taça na passagem de Zagallo pela #SeleçãoBrasileira. O Velho Lobo conquistou 20 troféus com a Amarelinha, incluindo essa da foto – a Copa América de 1997 🏆 pic.twitter.com/jSTyKVMCCp
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) August 9, 2021
But his managerial success at the helm of the national team didn’t end there. Velho Lobo guided Brazil to their fifth Copa América title in 1997, with his side claiming a perfect record in the group stage en route to the final, where they beat the hosts 3-1.
Later that year, Zagallo also celebrated the FIFA Confederations Cup title. His team put on a show in the final, thrashing Australia 6-0.
Zagallo documentary by Sambafoot
Sambafoot Series has launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo’ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays – as a player and as a coach. The first episodes are available in Sambafoot’s Youtube channel and the series will receive weekly releases to tell this legend’s life story.
