Football world pays tribute to four-time FIFA World Cup winner Mário Zagallo

One of Brazilian football's most important figures, Mário Zagallo, has died aged 92.

His passing was announced early on Saturday (6 January) by his family with Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues saying, "The CBF and Brazilian football mourn the death of one of its greatest legends, Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo. The CBF offers solidarity to his family and fans in this moment of grief."

Zagallo is the only man to win four FIFA World Cups - two as a player, one as a manager, and one as an assistant.

He also guided the United Arab Emirates to their first World Cup appearance in 1990.

Rodrigues said the CBF would hold seven days of mourning and that there would be a minute's silence ahead of all matches in this weekend's Copa do Nordeste qualifiers featuring the top sides in north-east Brazil.

Mário Zagallo - from player to 'Professor'

As a left-winger, Zagallo scored in the 1958 World Cup final win over hosts Sweden and - along with the likes of Pele and Garrincha - helped secure back-to-back triumphs in Chile four years later.

Having spent his club career at Flamengo and Botafogo, he took over as manager of the latter soon after hanging up his boots in 1965.

His coaching success at Botafogo prompted his appointment to the national team job, and he guided Brazil to World Cup glory - with Pele again playing a starring role - at Mexico 1970.

Only Franz Beckenbauer and Didier Deschamps have matched Zagallo's achievement of winning the World Cup both as a player and head coach.

In 1994, Zagallo - who earned the nickname 'The Professor' for his tactical acumen - was assistant coach to Carlos Alberto Parreira as Brazil won the World Cup for a fourth time.

Zagallo took over again as head coach later that year and was in charge at the 1998 World Cup. Brazil went down 3-0 in the final to France after star striker Ronaldo took the field despite an unexplained convulsion on the afternoon of the game.

Famously superstitious - Zagallo believed the number 13 brought him luck - he would often tell his critics, "You will have to put up with me."

In a statement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, "Mario Zagallo won four FIFA World Cups, as a player and then a coach; more than any other person. But his legacy cannot be summed up by numbers. Zagallo’s influence on football, and Brazilian football in particular, is supreme.

“In times of need, Brazil has looked to ‘The Professor’ as a calming presence, a steering hand and as a tactical genius.

“He will be remembered as the Godfather of Brazilian football and his presence will be sorely missed by everyone in the game but especially here at FIFA. The story of the FIFA World Cup cannot be told without Mário Zagallo."