Only a few serial winners sit at the top of the soccer pyramid. While many nations and players have won the biggest accolade on the global stage – the World Cup, only three men have lifted the trophy both as players and as managers. Let’s shine some light on these three legends of the beautiful game.
Mario Zagallo (Player: 1958 & 1962, Manager: 1970)
The late, great Mario Zagallo might not have been anywhere near as spectacular as, let’s say, Pele. But he was right there alongside him when Brazil won consecutive World Cups.
The first time came in 1958, when Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 on their home turf. Just four years later, Zagallo was part of the Brazil team that won its second World Cup – beating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in Chile.
Zagallo also had plenty of success with the “Selecao” as a manager. The “Little Ant” inherited arguably Brazil’s greatest-ever team, including legends like Pele, Rivellino, Tostao, and Gerson. In 1970, at Mexico’s Estadio Azteca, Zagallo’s Brazil demolished Italy 4-1 in the Azteca Area – with many calling it the greatest World Cup final of the 20th Century.
A few decades later, Zagallo would manage Brazil again, winning the 1997 Copa America in Bolivia. Despite taking Brazil to the World Cup final again in 1998, they ultimately came undone against a rampant France team.
Franz Beckenbauer (Player: 1974, Manager: 1990)
A young Franz Beckenbauer was part of the West Germany team that lost to England 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup final. But it was a matter of time before Franz helped the Germans seize the gold. “Die Mannschaft” went on to win Euro 1972 in Belgium. Then, two years later, “Der Kaizer” captained West Germany to a 2-1 World Cup triumph over the Netherlands in Munich’s Olympiastadion.
As West Germany’s manager, Beckenbauer famously missed out on the World Cup in 1986, being outplayed by Diego Maradona’s Argentina. But he finally managed his team to the iconic trophy, when Germany got revenge on the South American nation in 1990, winning 1-0 in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
Dider Deschamps (Player: 1998, Manager: 2018)
As previously mentioned, France capitalized on hosting the World Cup in 1998. A star-studded team that includes Deschamps, Zinedine Zidane, Emmuanel Petit, Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, and others, vanquished Zagallo’s Brazil on their way to the trophy.
Fast-forward about 15 years into the future, and Deschamps was now managing Les Bleus. With Euro 2016 being hosted by France, there was a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Unfortunately, he was one goal away from lifting the trophy, losing out to Portugal in the final.
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Deschamps was blessed with the teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe. Together, they blew away everyone in their path, eventually beating Croatia 4-2 in the final.
And Deschamps nearly led France to consecutive World Cup wins. Despite having a seriously depleted squad in 2022, they reached the final again. L’Equipe lost on penalties to Argentina, but only after fighting out a 3-3 classic. Many have called it one of the greatest soccer games of all time.