On Friday night, the world of football lost one of its greatest legends, Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo, at 92 years old.
The former Brazilian player and coach left an impressive legacy, being the only four-time world champion, having participated in the Brazilian National Team's conquests in 1958 and 1962 as a player, in 1970 as a coach, and in 1994 as a technical coordinator.
Even though his last name sounds like Italian origin, it is important to highlight that Zagallo was descendant of Portuguese. However, its influence and recognition in Italy were undeniable, as evidenced by the extensive media coverage in the European country.
A Rai TV expressed his condolences, highlighting Zagallo's long and illustrious career: “Dead at 92 anni Mario Zagallo, leggenda del calcio brasiliano” (At the age of 92, Mario Zagallo, legend of Brazilian football, dies).
O jornal La Repubblica highlighted Zagallo's uniqueness in winning four World Cups: “Aveva 92 anni, è stato l'unico a vincere 4 mondiali, prima da calciatore poi da allenatore” (He was 92 years old, he was the only one to win 4 World Cups, first as a player and then as a coach).
Or renomado Corriere newspaper, by calling him “The Professor”, recognized Zagallo’s fundamental role in four of the Brazilian team’s five world titles.
The portal Virgilio lamented the loss of the “formichina” who won four World Cups, while the Corriere dello Sport highlighted Brazil's sadness at the loss of its four-time world champion: “Mario Zagallo, il Brasile piange il quattro volte campione del mondo” (Mario Zagallo, Brazil mourns the four-time world champion).
A TV Sky TG24 reported: “Il mondo del calcio è in lutto” (The world of football is in mourning), reflecting the sadness that permeated the football community with Zagallo's departure.
The death of the iconic Brazilian player and coach resonated in the Italian media, highlighting not only his achievements, but also his lasting influence on the sport.
Zagallo's farewell will leave a gap in the hearts of football lovers around the world, and his memory will continue to inspire future generations.
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