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Body of former coach Zagallo is buried in Rio

He played a major part in four of Brazil’s five world titles
Rodrigo Ricardo
Published on 08/01/2024 - 14:01
Rio de Janeiro
Corpo do ex-técnico Zagallo é levado em carro aberto do Corpo de Bombeiros, da sede da CBF até o cemitério São João Batista, em 07/01/2024
© Joilson Marconne/CBF/Direitos Reservados

The body of former coach of the Brazilian national football team Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo was buried late Sunday afternoon (Jan. 7) in a cemetery in southern Rio de Janeiro.

Zagallo was directly involved in as many as four of the five world titles won by the seleção: two as a player, one as a coach, and one as technical coordinator.

At first, only family and friends were allowed to attend the final farewell to the former coach and player, but admirers and fans—wearing the shirt of from the Brazilian national team, in addition to those of Botafogo, Flamengo, and other clubs Zagallo coached—attended the funeral, paying their last respects to the Old Wolf, as he was known.

There was plenty of applause at Zagallo’s farewell, when he was buried in the family tomb next to his wife Alcina. They were married for 57 years. He had four children.

Zagallo died at 11:41 pm on Friday (5) of multiple-organ failure, aged 92. He had been hospitalized at the end of last year at Barra D’Or Hospital.