Great Jairzinho Made Brazil's Guest Coach

The 1970 World Cup-winner, who scored in every game of the tournament, has been drafted in to help the Selecao become less dependent on Neymar He scored goal in every game he played for Brazil at World Cup 1970, making the difference time and again in a side that included the likes of Pele, Rivelino, Carlos Alberto, Tostao and Gerson.

And now, at 70, Jairzinho, the 'World Cup Hurricane', will have the chance to make a difference with the current Brazil side after coach Dunga confirmed he will be joining the coaching staff for the Brasil Global Tour friendlies with France and Chile this month.


"Jairzinho participated in one of the best teams the world has seen, the 1970 world champions. In Pele Brazil have a legend, and Jairzinho was still the highlight as he scored goal in every match,” said Dunga.

“When you have a strong collective or a great player, the others cannot expect that he decides the game alone. Everyone has to play their part. Jairzinho showed that.”

The Botafogo legend played 107 matches for Brazil, scoring 44 goals. In addition to the World Cup in 1970, he also represented the Selecao in the tournaments of 1966 and 1974. His excellent technique was made all the more devastating by his lightning speed and phenomenal upper-body strength.

He began his career in Rio with Botafogo as a ball boy in 1958. As a young boy, he sat at the side of the watching Brazilian greats such as Nilton Santos, Amarildo, Didi, Garrincha and Gerson.

Years later he would inherit Garrincha’s famous No.7 shirt at Botafogo, and has since been immortalised alongside the club’s greatest ever players. And he features just as heavily at the CBF museum in Rio de Janeiro for his exploits in firing Brazil to their third World Cup.

Technical Director of Brazil national teams Gilmar Rinaldi says his experience will be key to the evolution of the current side.

"We look for someone is right for the time,” Gilmar said.

“We always searching for suitability for that moment. Right now, we need to show that we have a great team with fantastic players, just as in the past, but the players must learn that they cannot wait for just one person to decide games.”

Jairzinho will be the fourth guest assistant since Dunga succeeded Luiz Felipe Scolari as Brazil coach in July 2014.

Previously the role has gone to 1994 World Cup-winning midfielder Mauro Silva, member of the 1982 side Oscar and former Santos striker Edu.