Mario Zagallo's return to Flamengo brought instant dividends when his not-so-new charges ended a five game losing streak by defeating Argentina's Velez Sarsfield 2-0 in a Copa Mercosur match.
Zagallo, 68, has returned to 'Fla' for his third stint in charge of the club, replacing the sacked Carlinhos, himself in charge for no less than the seventh time.
Adriano and Roma scored second-half goals to give the Sao Paulo club victory. Brazil international Denilson was sent off at the end for fighting, his second red card in four games. The winger is on loan from Spanish club Betis in an attempt to resurrect a failing career which once saw him compared favourably to Stanley Matthews.
Zagallo has returned to coaching after exactly a year out of the game. He was coach of the Brazilian team at France '98, which folded so badly and mysteriously in the final against the hosts. He lost his job amid the still-continuing fall-out from that defeat. The inclusion of a cleary unfit Ronaldo and controversy over Brazil's relationship with Nike meant his position was untenable. Zagallo was replaced by Wanderly Luxemburgo, who lost his jobs amid yet more controversy.
But now, sixty-eight years-young Zagallo described his return to 'Fla' as 'a glory' and said that despite being bombarded with offers in his year out of soccer he had waited for the right job.
- NEWS