3 legends to win World Cup as players, coaches

By Peter Ochieng

Thousands of players and hundreds of coaches have appeared at the FIFA World Cup since its inception in 1930.

The 2022 World Cup tournament was the 22nd edition, meaning over 10, 000 players and over 200 coaches have represented their teams at the word soccer bonanza.

Interestingly, only three men have won the FIFA World Cup title as players, and later on as coaches. They are:

1. Mario Zagallo      

Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo alias Mario Zagallo had four different stints as Brazil national football team head coach, and is considered one of the best coaches the South American football powerhouse has ever had.

As a player, the former forward led Brazil to two World Cup titles in 1958 and 1962, before winning the coveted trophy as coach in 1970, making him the first man to achieve the feat.

In addition, he won the 1994 FIFA World Cup as assistant manager. Zagallo also coached Brazil in 1974, finishing fourth and in 1998, finishing as runners-up after being thrashed 3-0 by hosts France, in the final.

He also coached Brazil to the 1997 Copa America and FIFA Confederations Cup titles.

Zagallo died on January 05, 2024, aged 92.

2. Franz Anton Beckenbauer

The former midfielder cum centre-half led West Germany to World Cup glory in 1974 as a player.

He became the second man to win the World Cup title as a coach, after leading his team to glory in 1990, defeating Diego Maradona-led Argentina in the final.

In what appeared as following in the ‘footsteps’ of Zagallo, Beckenbauer died on January 07, 2025, aged 78.

3. Didier Deschamps

Inspired upfront by Zinedine Zidane alias Zizou, France won the 1998 World Cup title on home soil, beating a Ronaldo-less Brazil 3-0 in the final.  

Didier Deschamps was the captain of that French side. Twenty years later in 2018 in Russia, he coached France to victory, courtesy of a Paul Pogba inspired 4-2 win against a determined Croatia side, captained by the ever-green captain, Luka Modric, in the final.

Early this month, the former defender announced that he will relinquish his role as French coach after the 2026 World Cup tournament.

Zidane has been touted as his possible replacement.