There have been quite a few losses to mourn this year in the world of sports, particularly in cricket. While the news of the passing of a great athlete was always met with sadness, it was also, as always, a chance to celebrate the individual's extraordinary achievements in their careers and their lives. Here, in no particular, we remember and celebrate some of the more prominent names that were lost from the world of sports in 2024.

Mário Zagallo: January 5; Aged: 92

Mario Zagallo was the inaugural individual, and to date, one of only three, to achieve victory in the men's football World Cup both as a player and as a coach. Renowned for his charisma and superstitions, he was particularly fond of the number 13 and frequently declared, “You will have to put up with me,” in response to his critics. He considered 13 to be his lucky number, as it represents the last two digits of his birth year, 1931.

Zagallo's influence permeated nearly every significant event in Brazilian football history, spanning from the nation’s first World Cup triumph in 1958 to the tournament it hosted in 2014. He was a forward on the team that secured the World Cup in 1958 in Sweden and again in 1962 in Chile, and he was among the pioneers of the false winger role, operating between midfielders and forwards.

After retiring in 1965, Zagallo commenced his coaching career with the Rio de Janeiro club Botafogo the following year. He was appointed as the national team coach in 1970, just prior to the World Cup in Mexico, taking charge of a squad that featured legends such as Pelé, Jairzinho, Gerson, Roberto Rivellino, and Tostão. Under his leadership, Brazil triumphed over Italy 4-1 in the final, becoming the first team to win the World Cup three times. Zagallo later served as assistant coach to Carlos Alberto Parreira when Brazil clinched the 1994 World Cup in the United States, once again defeating Italy in the final. Zagallo passed away on January 5.

Franz Beckenbauer: January 7; Aged: 78

Franz Beckenbauer is widely acknowledged as the greatest defender in football history and is credited with pioneering the libero position in defensive midfield. His passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from individuals across various sectors. Known as Der Kaiser, or "The Emperor," Beckenbauer became the second individual, following Zagallo, to secure the FIFA World Cup both as a player and as a manager, with France's Didier Deschamps being the third. He captained the West Germany team to victory in the 1974 World Cup and later guided them to another championship as a manager in 1990. Additionally, he was instrumental in West Germany's triumph in the European Championship in 1972.

Over the course of his career, Beckenbauer earned 104 caps for West Germany and played over 400 matches for Bayern Munich. During his 13-year tenure with the Bavarian club from 1964 to 1977, he contributed to the team’s remarkable achievement of winning three consecutive European Cup titles, now known as the UEFA Champions League, in the years 1973/74, 1974/75, and 1975/76. He also claimed five German league titles and an equal number of German Cups, along with an Intercontinental Cup and a European Cup Winners' Cup in 1966/67.

In the same year he retired from playing, Beckenbauer was appointed as the manager of West Germany. Despite lacking prior coaching experience, he successfully led the team to consecutive World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990, clinching the title in the latter. Beckenbauer also played a key role in Germany's successful bid for the 2006 World Cup and was involved in the tournament's organizing committee. However, controversies and allegations of corruption from that period, which persisted until his passing, somewhat marred his legacy. He passed away at the age of 78.

DK Gaekwad: February 13; Aged: 95

Dattajirao Gaekwad was recognized as the oldest living Indian cricketer at the time of his passing. He participated in 11 Test matches for India from 1952 to 1961, serving as the captain of the national team during the 1959 tour of England. Unfortunately, India was unable to secure a victory in any of the five Tests and performed poorly in the first-class matches as well. Nevertheless, Gaekwad demonstrated commendable resilience, amassing a total of 1174 runs at an average of 34.52 during the tour. He made his Test debut against England in Leeds in 1952, with his last international appearance occurring against Pakistan in Chennai in 1961.

In the Ranji Trophy, Gaekwad played for Baroda from 1947 to 1961, accumulating 3139 runs at an impressive average of 47.56, which included 14 centuries. His highest score was an unbeaten 249 against Maharashtra during the 1959-60 season. Following the death of former cricketer Deepak Shodhan in 2016, Gaekwad became the oldest living Test cricketer in India at the age of 87. He passed away at the age of 95.

Mike Procter: February 17; Aged: 77

Mike Procter served as South Africa's inaugural coach following the nation's re-entry into international cricket post-apartheid. He was an exceptional all-rounder whose talents were largely unrecognized on the global stage due to the country's prolonged isolation from the sport. Procter participated in only seven Test matches between 1967 and 1970, yet he possessed the potential to be ranked among the great all-rounders of his time, alongside Ian Botham, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, and Richard Hadley, had South Africa not faced such isolation.

A trailblazer for Gloucestershire, Procter amassed 21,936 runs in 401 first-class matches, achieving an average of 36.01, complemented by 48 centuries and 109 half-centuries. He also claimed 1,417 wickets, showcasing an impressive strike rate and averages of 46.1 and 19.53, respectively. Following South Africa's reintegration into international cricket, Procter played a significant role in guiding the team to the semi-finals of the 1992 World Cup held in Australia.

Derek Underwood: April 15; Aged: 78

Undoubtedly, Underwood stands out as the most exceptional spinner ever produced by England, significantly ahead of his contemporaries. He held the title of the world's top bowler for nearly four years, from 1969 to 1973. Sunil Gavaskar regarded Underwood as one of the most formidable bowlers he encountered throughout his career. Over the course of 86 Test matches from 1966 to 1982, Underwood claimed 297 wickets, dedicating his entire first-class career to Kent.

In 1968, Underwood played a pivotal role in England's renowned victory over their long-standing rivals, Australia, at The Oval, achieving remarkable match figures of 7-50 against them. He made his Test debut at the age of 21 in 1966 and concluded his Test career with the England team in 1982. Throughout his 86 Test appearances, he secured 297 wickets at an average of 25.83, including 17 instances of taking five wickets in an innings. In total, Underwood amassed 2,465 wickets across 676 first-class matches.

Anshuman Gaekwad: July 31; Aged: 71

Anshuman Gaekwad passed away approximately six months after the death of his father, Datta Gaekwad. Anshuman represented India in 40 Test matches and 15 One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1975 and 1987, accumulating a total of 1,985 runs in Test cricket, with a personal best of 201 runs achieved during an extensive 11-hour innings against Pakistan. Although his statistics may not have been particularly remarkable, he was celebrated for his determination at the crease. In addition to his remarkable double century against Pakistan, Gaekwad demonstrated resilience during the contentious 1977 Test match in Jamaica against the West Indies, where he scored a commendable 81 runs. In that match, captain Bishan Singh Bedi was compelled to declare early to safeguard the well-being of his players.

Gaekwad served as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team during two separate periods, from 1997 to 1999 and again in 2000. Under his guidance, India reached the finals of the 2000 Champions Trophy. He also had a brief association with the Kenyan national team. Furthermore, Gaekwad was a member of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) until his resignation in 2019. In recent years, he held the position of president of the Indian Cricketers' Association.

Graham Thorpe: August 4; Aged: 55

Graham Thorpe's passing reverberated throughout the cricketing community and sparked important discussions regarding mental health within the sport. The accomplished former batsman tragically took his own life at the age of 55 on August 4. Over his career, Thorpe amassed 6,744 runs in 100 Test matches, achieving an average of 44.66, which included 16 centuries and 39 half-centuries, from July 1993 to June 2005. Additionally, he participated in 82 One Day Internationals (ODIs), scoring 2,380 runs at an average of 37.18, with 21 half-centuries to his name.

After retiring from ODIs in 2002, Thorpe took an indefinite hiatus from cricket amid a highly publicized marital breakdown. He made a remarkable comeback, scoring a century in his final Test against South Africa at The Oval in 2003, which played a crucial role in England's remarkable recovery to draw the series 2-2. Following this, he accumulated 1,511 runs at an impressive average of 54 until the conclusion of his playing career.

Subsequently, Thorpe transitioned into coaching roles at various levels. He served as England's batting coach and assistant coach until he resigned in February 2022 following a 4-0 defeat in the Ashes series. In March 2022, he was appointed as the head coach of Afghanistan, but he was hospitalized due to a serious illness before he could assume his duties. His widow, Amanda, later disclosed that this incident marked his first attempt at taking his own life. Ultimately, Thorpe never had the opportunity to lead the Afghanistan team.

In November of this year, Thorpe's contributions to cricket were commemorated when he was posthumously honored with a new trophy, which England and New Zealand will compete for in Test matches. This trophy, named the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, pays tribute to both Thorpe and the legendary New Zealand cricketer Martin Crowe.

Sven-Göran Eriksson: August 26; Aged: 76

Swedish football manager Sven-Goran Eriksson is primarily recognized for his tenure as the head coach of the England men's national football team from 2002 to 2006. Eriksson disclosed to the public broadcaster Sveriges Radio that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, with his doctors estimating that he has "at best maybe a year (to live), at worst a little less." "We have been aware of this situation, but it unfolded very rapidly. We were not prepared for it to occur today," stated Gustavsson to AFP.

Born on February 5, 1948, in Sunne, located in western Sweden, Eriksson, affectionately known as "Svennis" among Swedes, achieved notable success as a football manager following a modest playing career as a defender. He began his managerial journey in 1977 with the Swedish club Degerfors IF. After guiding the club to success in the lower divisions, he garnered the attention of larger teams.

Eriksson subsequently managed Sweden's IFK Goteborg before achieving international recognition, taking the helm at Benfica in Portugal and several Italian clubs, including Roma and Lazio. His most prominent role was as the first foreign manager of England's national team. During his tenure, he led England to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2002, where they were eliminated by Brazil.

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