MARIO ZAGALLO: A four-time World Cup winner with Brazil, Zagallo lifted the trophy as a player at back-to-back tournaments in 1958 and 1962, then oversaw the triumph in 1970 as manager and was assistant coach for the 1994 success. He passed away in January at the age 92.
FRANZ BECKENBAUER: German great Beckenbauer, another of only three men to have won the World Cup as a player and manager, was nicknamed 'Der Kaiser' (The Emperor) for his commanding style on the field. Having captained West Germany to World Cup glory in 1974 - he also won the Euros, and three successive European Cups with Bayern Munich in that decade - he subsequently managed them when they were crowned world champions again in 1990, before later becoming a football administrator. He died shortly after Zagallo, aged 78.
JPR WILLIAMS: The former Wales and British and Irish Lions fullback, regarded as one of rugby union's finest - and toughest - players, died in January at the age of 74. Williams had a prominent role for the Lions as he started all eight Tests on victorious tours to New Zealand in 1971 and South Africa three years later.
BARRY JOHN: Just four weeks after Williams' death, his former team-mate John died aged 79. The fly-half won 25 Wales caps between 1966 and 1972 and was given the nickname 'The King' by New Zealand journalists due to the impact of his performances on the 1971 Lions tour.
This story is from the December 31, 2024 edition of Birmingham Mail.
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This story is from the December 31, 2024 edition of Birmingham Mail.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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