The former Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi has been honored by the European Football Union with the so-called President’s Award.
In doing so, UEFA recognizes Sacchi’s “countless tactical innovations”, according to President Aleksander Ceferin. “Very few people have reshaped the philosophy of the game like Arrigo Sacchi did, so that the sport can be divided into two eras – before and after Sacchi,” Ceferin said of the 76-year-old Italian. Sacchi is set to receive the award on Thursday as part of the Champions League group stage draw in Istanbul.
While Sacchi was never a top-flight player, he was one of the continent’s greatest coaches. He first gained public attention in the late 1980s, when he introduced elements that were still considered innovative at the time, such as high pressing and coverage at AC Milan.
With his new offensive style, Sacchi Milan led to two titles in the European Cup in 1989 and 1990. As national coach, he became vice world champion with Italy in 1994.
“The players acted in perfect coordination and played to win, regardless of whether they were playing at home or away. That seemed almost supernatural in the 1980s,” said Ceferin.