Brazil’s football legend Mario Zagallo, the first player to win the World Cup as a coach and player, has been admitted to hospital. Doctors on duty said that he was admitted to the hospital due to urinary tract infection. Jagalo celebrated his 92nd birthday a week ago.
Jagalo, who was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, is currently in stable condition, according to Rio de Janeiro’s Brara d’Or Hospital authorities. But he has shortness of breath. The hospital authorities also mentioned that no time has been fixed for him to be released from the hospital.
He was re-diagnosed at least a year after spending two weeks in semi-intensive care at the same hospital due to a respiratory infection. Jagallo played in Brazil’s World Cup-winning team with the late football legend Pele in 1958 and 1962. Strong in defense, this football star was equally efficient in attack.
Later, he served as the coach of Brazil’s national football team. Under Zagalo, Brazil won the World Cup again in 1970. Apart from Zagalo, Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer (1974 and 1990) and France’s Didier Deschamps (1998 and 2018) have won World Cup titles as coaches and players.
Jagallo also posted a picture of himself on Instagram after celebrating his 92nd birthday last week. Where he is seen smiling with family members. Jagalo wrote in the caption of the photo, ‘Celebrating my birthday with family in the best way.’
(17 August/MM)