Top 3 Footballers Who Won the World Cup as a Player and Later as a Manager
Explore exciting details about the top three football players who defied conventions and lifted the World Cup twice as a player and a manager
Pulling off the FIFA World Cup is undoubtedly a dream for every football player out there and a few of them have been fortunate and influential enough to clinch the coveted World Cup not only once but twice in their football careers, first as a player and later on as a coach of the team that they previously played for. Without much ado, let’s unveil their streak of achievements at the world’s most decorated and prestigious football tournament – The FIFA World Cup!
In this article we will take a closer look at the top three football players who made history by clinching the World Cup twice – first as a player and later on as a manager.
Top 3 Footballers Who Won the World Cup as a Player and Later as a Manager
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- Didier Deschamps, France
Former French football player and current manager of the France national football team, Didier Deschamps, also popularly referred to as “the water-carrier”, is at the first spot in our list of top three football players who won the World Cup twice, first as a player and later on as a manager. Under Didier Deschamps captaincy, France clinched the 1998 FIFA World Cup for the very first time after defeating Brazil with a dominating score of 3-0 in the finals. Didier Deschamps led the French squad by example and dictated the whole tempo of the game, securing France’s debut victory at the FIFA World Cup.
Later on, Deschamps transitioned into management and adorned the role of a football manager of the France national team in 2012. Well, the transition only unveiled a more lethal side to the “Water-Carrier”, as in 2018 he successfully led France to its second glorious triumph at the 2018 FIFA World Cup as a football manager. Owing to his extremely successful and highly influential skills, Didier Deschamps continues to serve as the football manager of France’s national football team and, according to the reports, he would continue till 2026.
- Mario Zagallo
The late Brazilian professional football player and football manager of the Brazil national football team, Mario Jorge Lobo Zagallo, popularly referred to as “Mario Zagallo”, is at the second spot on our list of top three football players who won the World Cup twice, first as a player and later as a manager.
The legendary late football player Mario Zagallo holds the record for clinching the coveted FIFA World Cup for a record total of four times – two as a player in the years 1958 in Sweden and 1962 in Chile, one as a manager in 1970 and as an assistant coach in the year 1994. In fact, Mario Zagallo became the first ever football player to clinch the FIFA World Cup both as a player and as a manager. Additionally, Mario Zagallo also holds the record for making it to the FIFA World Cup Finals for a record total of six times.
The prominent football player unfortunately passed away on 5 January 2024, at the age of 92, due to multiple organ failure. In an attempt to honor the rich legacy that Zagallo has left behind, the president of the Brazilian Soccer Confederation rightly acknowledged him as “one of the biggest legends” of football.
- Franz Beckenbauer
Widely regarded as the “greatest football player of all-time”, the late former German professional football player and manager Franz Anton Beckenbauer is at the third spot on our list of top three football players who won the World Cup, as a player and also as a manager.
Franz Beckenbauer dominated the opposing teams as a central defender and a modern sweeper for Germany and led the German side to a glorious victory in the finals of the 1974 FIFA World Cup against the Netherlands with a score of 2-1. Later, the football player also dominated the opponent teams from the sideline and again led the German national football team to a formidable victory at the 1990 FIFA World Cup against Argentina. Well, this time the triumph was even more special as it was the first time that Germany clinched a World Cup after reunification. Franz Beckenbauer undoubtedly proved his mettle on the football field both as a player in 1964 and as a head coach in 1990. There’s no doubt why Beckenbauer is still considered to be one of the biggest role models for modern football players!