Only a few soccer team managers have ever won the FIFA World Cup. The great soccer team managers of the FIFA World Cup have done this and managed some great World Cup soccer teams. With excellent records in the World Cup, these are a few of the greatest FIFA World Cup-winning managers in history.
Mario Zagallo is one of the great Brazilian coaches to have managed the soccer side. Zagallo first managed the Brazil team early in his management career, where he took over the side for the 1970 World Cup. Zagallo was lucky to have an outstanding group of players, but at any rate, he still found a place for all the stars in the same eleven. Equally, the swashbuckling 1970s team also got results, winning all their games in the FIFA World Cup en route to the final. Then, against Italy, they blew the Italians away 4-1 to claim a triumphant World Cup. Zagallo continued as Brazil’s manager into the 1974 World Cup, where his side finished in fourth place.
In 1998, Zagallo returned to the Brazilian team for the 1998 World Cup. The team had plenty of talent, and with Ronaldo spearheading the side, Zagallo took them to the World Cup final. A poor showing against France cost the team the World Cup after a 3–0 defeat. Overall, Zagallo’s record in the World Cup is one of the best, having won the World Cup and reached the final and semi-finals with Brazil.
Beckenbauer was a great German player and one of their best managers. He managed the West German soccer team in both the 1986 and 1990 World Cups with success. In the first World Cup, he took the team all the way to the final. However, against a Maradonna-inspired side, they lost the game 3-2 overall.
In the 1990 World Cup, Beckenbauer’s team was all the better and was able to reach another World Cup final, which was a rematch of the 1986 game. The final was a rather drab affair, but a penalty was awarded to Germany, which enabled them to gain a 1-0 lead in the game. The game ended 1-0 overall, and Beckenbauer’s team won the 1990 World Cup. Like Zagallo, Beckenbauer won the World Cup both as a player and a coach.
For any England fan, Alf Ramsey is considered England’s finest manager for his part in England’s 1966 World Cup success. Ramsey took the reins as England manager, said that England could win the 1966 World Cup, and introduced a tactical shake-up for the England soccer side. Alf pulled England’s wingers further back into midfield for a more 4-3-3 formation.
The Wingless Wonders, as they became known, did not disappoint at the 1966 World Cup as Ramsey’s side reached England’s first World Cup final after a 2–1 win over Portugal. Then, in the final against West Germany, Ramsey further inspired his side to a 4-2 victory in extra time. Ramsey remains the only English soccer manager to have won the World Cup.
Pozzo was the manager of the Italian soccer team during the 1930s and is regarded as one of the greatest managers of Italy’s team. Pozzo took advantage of calling players from other countries who claimed some sort of Italian ancestry, such as Monti. During this time, he managed the team to their first World Cup triumph in 1934. In the 1938 World Cup hosted in Italy, Pozzo’s side retained the Jules Rimet trophy. Pozzo won the World Cup twice as part of a unique double in the 1930s.
The greatest FIFA World Cup-winning managers above revolutionized soccer. Mario Zagallo, Beckenbauer, Pozzo, and Ramsey all had great records in the FIFA World Cup and inspired their teams to victory.
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