Winning the FIFA World Cup once is enough to secure a lasting place in football history. To win it again as a coach is an achievement of an entirely different order.
Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, only three individuals have claimed football’s most coveted prize both as players and as head coaches. Mario Zagallo achieved the feat with Brazil. Franz Beckenbauer followed with West Germany. Didier Deschamps completed the exclusive trio with France.
Many former World Cup players have gone on to manage at the tournament. Some guided their teams to finals, while others came agonisingly close to lifting the trophy. Yet only these three men have successfully completed the rare transition from World Cup-winning player to World Cup-winning coach.
Mario Zagallo: The pioneer
Long before he became a coaching icon, Mario Zagallo was an important part of Brazil’s first golden generation.
The left winger played in the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, helping Brazil win both tournaments. He was not the star attraction in a team that featured names like Pele and Garrincha, but his intelligence, discipline and tactical awareness made him a vital piece of the puzzle.
At the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, Zagallo played every match as Brazil won the title for the first time. He also scored against Austria in the group stage. Four years later, he helped Brazil defend their crown in Chile and became a two time World Cup winner as a player.
Yet his greatest contribution was still to come. In 1970, at just 38 years old, Zagallo led Brazil at the World Cup in Mexico. The squad he inherited is often described as the greatest national team ever assembled. Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Tostao and Carlos Alberto dazzled opponents throughout the tournament.
Brazil scored 19 goals in six matches and beat Italy 4-1 in the final. The triumph made Zagallo the first person in history to win the World Cup as both a player and a coach.
He later served as Brazil’s coordinator during their successful 1994 campaign in the United States. That gave him four World Cup winner’s medals in different roles, a record few can match.
Franz Beckenbauer: The emperor
If Zagallo was the pioneer, Franz Beckenbauer was the man who elevated the achievement to another level.
Nicknamed “Der Kaiser”, Beckenbauer transformed the role of the sweeper and became one of the most influential footballers the sport has ever seen. Comfortable in defence, midfield and attack, he combined elegance with authority and changed how defenders were viewed.
His World Cup journey began with heartbreak. In 1966, he reached the final with West Germany but lost to England. Four years later, he helped West Germany reach the semi finals and produced one of the most memorable performances in tournament history against Italy despite suffering a shoulder injury.
Success finally arrived in 1974. As captain, Beckenbauer led West Germany to victory over Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands in the final. The triumph crowned a remarkable playing career that saw him score five goals across four World Cups despite primarily operating in defensive roles. His leadership qualities later carried over into coaching.
Beckenbauer guided West Germany to the 1986 World Cup final before returning four years later to finish the job. In Italy in 1990, his team defeated Diego Maradona’s Argentina 1-0 in the final to reclaim the trophy.
The victory made Beckenbauer the second person to win the World Cup as both player and coach. He also became the first to achieve the feat as both captain and manager.
Didier Deschamps: The leader
Unlike Zagallo and Beckenbauer, Didier Deschamps was never known for spectacular goals or dazzling skills. His strengths were different.
As a defensive midfielder, Deschamps built his reputation on discipline, intelligence and leadership. He was the player who connected every part of the team. Former teammate Eric Cantona famously described him as a “water carrier”, a player who did the hard work that allowed others to shine.
That role made him indispensable to France. In 1998, Deschamps captained his country at a home World Cup. He played every match as France lifted the trophy for the first time, defeating Brazil 3-0 in the final.
Two decades later, he found himself leading another talented French generation. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Deschamps guided a young squad featuring Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba to glory. France scored 14 goals during the tournament and defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final.
