View source for Arrigo Sacchi

{{short description|Italian association football manager}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Arrigo Sacchi
| image = Arrigo Sacchi 2007 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Sacchi in 2007
| fullname = Arrigo Sacchi<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/321245 |title=Sacchi Sig. Arrigo |trans-title=Sacchi Mr. Arrigo |website=Quirinale |publisher=Presidenza della Repubblica Italiana |access-date=27 December 2020 |language=Italian}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1946|4|1}}
| birth_place = [[Fusignano]], Italy
| height = 1.70 m
| manageryears1 = 1973–1976
| managerclubs1 = Fusignano
| manageryears2 = 1976–1977
| managerclubs2 = Alfonsine
| manageryears3 = 1977–1978
| managerclubs3 = [[AC Bellaria Igea Marina|Bellaria]]
| manageryears4 = 1978–1982
| managerclubs4 = [[AC Cesena|Cesena]] (youth)
| manageryears5 = 1982–1983
| managerclubs5 = [[Rimini FC 1912|Rimini]]
| manageryears6 = 1983–1984
| managerclubs6 = [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] (youth)
| manageryears7 = 1984–1985
| managerclubs7 = [[Rimini FC 1912|Rimini]]
| manageryears8 = 1985–1987
| managerclubs8 = [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]]
| manageryears9 = 1987–1991
| managerclubs9 = [[AC Milan]]
| manageryears10 = 1991–1996
| managerclubs10 = [[Italy national football team|Italy]]
| manageryears11 = 1996–1997
| managerclubs11 = [[AC Milan]]
| manageryears12 = 1998–1999
| managerclubs12 = [[Atlético Madrid]]
| manageryears13 = 2001
| managerclubs13 = [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]]
| medaltemplates = {{medalSport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|ITA}}}} <small>(as manager)</small>
{{MedalComp|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]|}}
}}
'''Arrigo Sacchi''' (born 1 April 1946) is an Italian former professional [[Association football|football]] coach, best known for having twice managed [[AC Milan]]. Sacchi is regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time,<ref name="greatestmanagers">{{cite web |title=Greatest Managers, No. 6: Arrigo Sacchi |url=http://www.espnfc.com/ac-milan/story/1515274/greatest-managersno-6-arrigo-sacchi |access-date=7 February 2015 |publisher=ESPN FC}}</ref> and his Milan side (1987–1991) is widely regarded to be one of the greatest club squads of all time.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 July 2007 |title=The greatest teams of all time |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2317066/The-greatest-teams-of-all-time.html |access-date=11 June 2015 |publisher=The Telegraph}}</ref><ref name="The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90">{{cite web |author=Paolo Menicucci |date=4 July 2015 |title=The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90 |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2213362.html |access-date=9 March 2016 |publisher=UEFA.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=14 July 2015 |title=La Uefa: "Il Milan di Sacchi è la più grande squadra di sempre" |url=http://www.sportmediaset.mediaset.it/calcio/championsleague/la-uefa-il-milan-di-sacchi-e-la-piu-grande-squadra-di-sempre-_1071409-201502a.shtml |access-date=9 March 2016 |publisher=Mediaset.it |language=it}}</ref>

Sacchi won the [[Serie A]] title in his [[1987–88 Serie A|1987–88 debut season]] and then dominated European football by winning back to back [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]s in [[1989 European Cup Final|1989]] and [[1990 European Cup Final|1990]]. From 1991 to 1996, he was head [[Coach (sport)|coach]] of the [[Italy national football team|Italy national team]] and led them to the [[1994 FIFA World Cup Final]], where they lost to [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in a penalty shoot-out. 

Sacchi was never a professional football player and for many years worked as a shoe salesman. This led to his famous quote directed at those who questioned his qualifications: "I never realised that in order to become a jockey you have to have been a horse first."<ref name="No experience required">{{cite web|url = https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=975920.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081213095145/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=975920.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 13 December 2008|title=No experience required|work=[[Fifa.com]]|date=12 December 2008|access-date=19 October 2010}}</ref> Another famous Sacchi quote is that "football is the most important of the least important things in life."<ref>{{cite news|title=Davide Astori's death leaves Fiorentina and Italy in state of shock'|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43279579|agency=BBC|date=4 March 2018}}</ref>

==Career==

===Early career===
Sacchi had grown up watching attacking sides, such as [[Budapest Honvéd FC|Budapest Honvéd]], [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]], [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] and the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]. He started his career managing his local club, Baracca Lugo, because he was not good enough to play for them. Of the challenge he faced, Sacchi said, "I was twenty-six, my goalkeeper was thirty-nine and my centre-forward was thirty-two. I had to win them over." He next coached at Bellaria before joining [[AC Cesena|Cesena]], who were in the [[Serie B]], as a youth team coach. He then took over at [[Rimini Calcio FC|Rimini]] who were playing in the [[Serie C1]], and almost led them to a title.

He received his breakthrough when he moved to [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] as a youth coach. His achievements with the youth team earned interest from [[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]], who were then playing in Serie C1. He led Parma to promotion in his first season, and in the following season took them to within 3&nbsp;points of promotion to [[Serie A]]. Of greater importance to his time at Parma, however, was the team's performance in the [[Coppa Italia]]; they beat [[AC Milan]] 1–0 in the group stages, and beat them again 1–0 on aggregate in the first knockout round. This was enough to attract interest from Milan club owner [[Silvio Berlusconi]], who promptly appointed Sacchi as manager.<ref name="gazzettadiparma">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzettadiparma.it/news/parma-serie-a/263639/Il-pallone-secondo-Sacchi.html|title=Il pallone secondo Sacchi|publisher=La Gazzetta di Parma|language=it|author1=Guido Conti|date=8 April 2015|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

===AC Milan===
At Milan, Sacchi again faced problems of credibility. The press argued that such an inadequate player could never go on to be a successful coach, and that even Berlusconi – who had played football at amateur level – was probably a better player. Sacchi wittily replied "I never realised that in order to become a jockey you have to have been a horse first."<ref name="No experience required"/> Sacchi was an instant success at the [[San Siro]], leading Milan to its first [[List of Italian football champions|Serie A title]] in nine years in his [[1987–88 Serie A|debut season]], following up the league title with a [[Supercoppa Italiana]] in [[1988 Supercoppa Italiana|1988]].<ref name="The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90"/><ref name="SacchitakeoverParma">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/europe/news/2001/0109/20010109paramacoa.html|title=Sacchi to take over at Parma|publisher=ESPN.com Soccernet|date=9 January 2001|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>

Sacchi's success at Milan gained him two back-to-back [[UEFA Champions League|European Cups]].<ref name="The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90"/><ref name="SacchitakeoverParma"/> The success he gained was largely attributed to the Dutch trio he had purchased: [[Marco van Basten]], [[Ruud Gullit]] and [[Frank Rijkaard]]. However, other great players such as [[Roberto Donadoni]], as well as the defensive back four of [[Franco Baresi]], [[Alessandro Costacurta]], [[Mauro Tassotti]] and [[Paolo Maldini]], were also a key to his success.<ref name="The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90"/>

The first European Cup final in [[1989 European Cup Final|1989]] was against [[FC Steaua București|Steaua București]], who were beaten  4–0. Gullit and Van Basten scored two goals each and Milan lifted the [[1988–89 European Cup|European Cup]] for the first time in over 20 years. En route to the final, Milan had dispatched [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] 6–1 on aggregate in the semi-final. The quarter-final against [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] was a tight affair; Milan only went through 1–0 on aggregate thanks to a Van Basten penalty. The second round was shrouded in controversy. Donadoni had his life saved only through the quick-thinking of the [[Red Star Belgrade]] physio, who broke his jaw to make a passage for oxygen to reach his lungs after he had suffered a bad foul and lay unconscious. The first leg ended in a 1–1 draw and the second leg got called off in 64th minute and rescheduled to be replayed the next day due to the thick fog (Milan was losing 0–1 at the moment). Milan eventually progressed following a penalty shoot-out.

Although the team was not as strong as they had been in the previous season, they were victorious again in [[1989–90 European Cup|1990]]. After victories against [[Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi|HJK Helsinki]], Real Madrid and [[KV Mechelen]], Milan defeated German  [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] in the semi-final, thanks to an [[away goal rule|away goal]]. In the [[1990 European Cup Final|final]] Frank Rijkaard scored the only goal of the game through a Van Basten assist to conquer [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]]'s [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]. By winning the final, Milan became the first team which retained the title since [[1979–80 European Cup|1980]], and the last team to do so until Real Madrid would manage to achieve this feat 27 years later. Sacchi would also capture back to back [[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cups]] and [[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cups]] in 1989 and 1990, and would lead Milan to the final of the [[1989–90 Coppa Italia]], where they were defeated by [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]. The following season saw them defeated by [[1990–91 European Cup|eventual runners-up]] [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] in the quarter-final, and finish second in [[1990–91 Serie A|Serie A]] behind [[UC Sampdoria|Sampdoria]], while they were eliminated in the semi-finals of the [[1990–91 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] by eventual champions [[AS Roma|Roma]]. This was Sacchi's last season with ''i Rossoneri''.<ref name="The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90"/><ref name="SacchitakeoverParma"/>

===Italy national team===
In November 1991, Sacchi was appointed manager of the [[Italy national football team|Italy national team]], replacing [[Azeglio Vicini]]. Sacchi based his Italian selection predominantly on Milan players, especially in the defensive line which featured Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi; the attacking line was led by 1993 [[Ballon d'Or]] winner [[Roberto Baggio]] of [[Juventus]]. Notable exclusions from Sacchi's ''Azzurri'' selections included [[Gianluca Vialli]], [[Roberto Mancini]], [[Giuseppe Bergomi]] (who had been part of the World Cup winning squad of [[1982 FIFA World Cup|1982]]) and [[Walter Zenga]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.calcioweb.eu/2014/11/luomo-del-giorno-arrigo-sacchi-lo-stratega-che-ha-fatto-la-storia-del-milan-torna-a-casa/150173/|title=L'uomo del giorno – Arrigo Sacchi: lo stratega che ha fatto la storia del Milan torna a casa|date=27 November 2014|access-date=18 January 2015|work=Calcioweb}}</ref>

Sacchi led Italy through the [[1994 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA – Group 1)|qualification campaign]] to reach the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]]. Despite losing their first match 1–0 to the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] and finishing third in their group, Italy reached the [[1994 FIFA World Cup Final|final]] (their first since [[1982 FIFA World Cup Final|1982]]), where they were defeated by [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in a [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalty shoot-out]], the first ever shootout in a World Cup final. Under Sacchi, Italy qualified for [[UEFA Euro 1996]], but were eliminated in the group stage from a group which included the eventual finalists, [[Germany national football team|Germany]] and the [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]].<ref name="SacchitakeoverParma"/> Sacchi later commented that the Euro 96 side were his best Italy team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/interview-with-arrigo-sacchi|title=Interview with Arrigo Sacchi|publisher=World Soccer|last=Ferrato|first=Luca|access-date=2 August 2013|archive-date=2 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102175701/http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/interview-with-arrigo-sacchi|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Later coaching and executive career===
After leaving his position with the national team, Sacchi returned to Milan to replace [[Óscar Tabárez]] in December 1996. However, the second spell was unsuccessful with Milan finishing 11th in [[1996–97 Serie A|the league]] and suffering its worst ever Serie A defeat, losing 6–1 at home to eventual champions Juventus.<ref name="SacchitakeoverParma"/>

Sacchi had brief spells in the Spanish [[La Liga]], taking charge of [[Atlético Madrid]] in 1998 after his second spell with the ''Rossoneri'', where he left his post in March of that season, with them languishing in the bottom half of the table. He also briefly returned to Parma in [[2000–01 Serie A|2001]], replacing [[Alberto Malesani]],<ref name="SacchitakeoverParma"/> but resigned after only 3 matches (2 draws, 1 victory) for stress reasons, to be replaced by [[Renzo Ulivieri]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/stressed-sacchi-steps-down-1.272136|title=Stressed Sacchi steps down|date=1 February 2001}}</ref> He later returned to Madrid, this time at the [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium]] as director of football at [[Real Madrid]] for the [[2004–05 Real Madrid C.F. season|2004–05 season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/2669/birthdays/2010/04/01/1858499/spanish-cumpleanos-javier-irureta|title=Spanish Cumpleanos: Javier Irureta|author=Paul Madden|work=Goal.com|date=1 April 2010|access-date=19 October 2010}}</ref>

==Management style, reception, and influence==
Nicknamed "The Prophet of Fusignano",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1988/05/13/alle-radici-dell-arrigo.html|title=ALLE RADICI DELL' ARRIGO|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|author1=Gianni Mura|date=13 May 1988|access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref> Sacchi is regarded as one of the greatest managers of all-time.<ref name=greatestmanagers/> He favored a fluid, yet highly organised attacking [[Formation (association football)#4–4–2|4–4–2 formation]],<ref name="The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90"/><ref name=90s>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jonathan_wilson/04/18/2011barca.acmilan90s/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424114434/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jonathan_wilson/04/18/2011barca.acmilan90s/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 April 2011|title=Barcelona 2011 vs AC Milan 1990s|date=19 April 2011|work=Sports Illustrated}}</ref><ref name=greatest>{{cite news|url=http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1515274/?cc=3436|title=Greatest Managers, No. 6: Arrigo Sacchi|date=7 August 2013|work=ESPN}}</ref> discarding the traditional [[Libero (football)|libero]]<ref name=breaking>{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1425160-great-team-tactics-breaking-down-how-arrigo-sacchis-ac-milan-took-down-europe|title=Great Team Tactics: Breaking Down How Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan Took Down Europe|date=1 December 2012}}</ref> in an era where Italian football was mainly focussed on strong defensive play,<ref name=greatest/><ref name=revolution>{{cite news|url=http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2012/08/arrigo-sacchi-and-his-italian-revolution/|title=Arrigo Sacchi And His Italian Revolution|date=27 August 2012|work=Forza Italian Football}}</ref> and [[Helenio Herrera]]'s ''[[Catenaccio]]'' tactics were still a strong influence.<ref name="The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90"/><ref name=breaking/> Defensively, Sacchi's teams adopted a [[Marking (association football)#Zonal marking|zonal marking]] system, which had already been introduced by his predecessor [[Nils Liedholm]], and were known for their defensive strength, conceding few goals;<ref name=breaking/><ref name="Game Changers">{{cite news |url=https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/wnm84n/game-changers-arrigo-sacchi-ac-milan |title=Game Changers: Arrigo Sacchi & AC Milan |work=Vice |last1=Storey |first1=Daniel |date=2 March 2016 |access-date=17 October 2019 }}</ref> indeed, the defensive quartet of Maldini, Baresi, Costacurta, and Tassotti, which Sacchi deployed both at Milan and with the Italy national team, is regarded as one of the greatest defences of all-time.<ref name="Game Changers"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2834534/gianluigi-buffon-record-cements-his-legacy-greatest-keeper|title=Gianluigi Buffon record cements his legacy as greatest keeper of all-time|publisher=ESPN FC|author1=James Horncastle|access-date=21 March 2016|date=21 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/mar/21/gianluigi-buffon-clean-sheet-record-juventus-torino-sebastiano-rossi|title=Gianluigi Buffon humble as clean sheet record tumbles, but delight not universal|work=The Guardian|first=Nicky|last=Bandini|date=21 March 2016|access-date=21 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/may/08/joy-of-six-great-defences|title=The Joy of Six: Great defences|work=The Guardian|author1=Rob Smyth|date=8 May 2009|access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/nazionale/2013/11/19/news/rivoluzione_filosofica_prandelli-71352856/?refresh_ce|title=Nazionale: 2013, addio al catenaccio. Balotelli-Rossi coppia mondiale|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|date=19 November 2013|access-date=9 March 2016}}</ref>

Sacchi believes in the Dutch concept of [[Total Football]],<ref name=90s/> insisting that young players should be coached in all aspects of football rather than into specialist positions, helping the team both with or without the ball.<ref name=magician/> He was also a firm believer in team ethic and treating all players as equals,<ref>{{cite web|author1=Giancarlo Padovan|title=Sacchi pretende un' Italia esagerata|trans-title=Sacchi expects an Italy side of the highest quality|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1996/gennaio/24/Sacchi_pretende_Italia_esagerata_co_0_9601242156.shtml|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|access-date=26 May 2015|language=it|date=24 January 1996}}</ref> once saying, "The only way you can build a side is by getting players who speak the same language and can play a team game. You can't achieve anything on your own, and if you do, it doesn't last long. I often quote what [[Michelangelo]] said: 'The spirit guides the hand.'"<ref name=said>{{cite news|url=https://www.fifa.com/newscentre/features/news/newsid=1639785/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602074503/http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/features/news/newsid=1639785/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2012|title=They said it: Arrigo Sacchi|date=26 May 2012|work=FIFA}}</ref> To perfect his team's cohesion, Sacchi introduced "shadow play", where his players would simulate a match in training without a football.<ref name=breaking/> As a coach, he also attracted controversy, as he was known for implementing a strict and rigorous training regime upon his players, and his teams were often known for their work ethic and discipline. Sacchi is also remembered for his outspokenness, stubbornness and his meticulous, obsessive attention to detail when preparing tactical solutions and perfecting plays, which his players were then expected to memorise and implement consistently during matches.<ref>{{cite web|title=1987: i primi mesi di Sacchi al Milan |trans-title=1987: Sacchi's first months at Milan |url=http://www.canalemilan.it/amarcord-it/1987-i-primi-mesi-di-sacchi-al-milan-28482 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526111727/http://www.canalemilan.it/amarcord-it/1987-i-primi-mesi-di-sacchi-al-milan-28482 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2015 |publisher=Canale Milan |access-date=26 May 2015 |language=it |date=19 November 2011 }}</ref> Throughout his career, he clashed with several of his players, including [[Marco Van Basten]], [[Gianluca Vialli]], and [[Roberto Baggio]], as well as manager [[Fabio Capello]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.guerinsportivo.it/news/calcio/2020/02/27-2784863/la_verita_su_van_basten_e_sacchi |title=La verità su Van Basten e Sacchi |publisher=www.guerinsportivo.it |language=it |date=27 February 2020 |access-date=23 January 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1995/dicembre/31/Vialli_Cancellerei_incomprensioni_con_nazionale_co_0_95123112294.shtml|title=Vialli: " Cancellerei le incomprensioni con la nazionale "|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=31 December 1995|access-date=18 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/30/Sacchi_Baggio_attenti_quei_due_co_0_94063014123.shtml|title=Sacchi e Baggio, attenti a quei due|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|language=it|date=30 June 1994|access-date=10 August 2012|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222165210/http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1994/giugno/30/Sacchi_Baggio_attenti_quei_due_co_0_94063014123.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="5 rivalità">{{cite web |url=https://www.fcinter1908.it/copertina/conte-vs-mazzarri-mourinho-vs-wenger-le-5-rivalita-piu-sentite-tra-gli-allenatori/1/ |title=Conte VS Mazzarri, Mourinho vs Wenger: le 5 rivalità più sentite tra gli allenatori - Fabio Capello e Arrigo Sacchi |publisher=FC Inter 1908 |language=it-IT |date=3 March 2017 |access-date=18 January 2024 }}</ref>

Sacchi is also credited as an innovator, popularising high pressing from his teams, the [[Offside (association football)#Offside trap|offside trap]], and a high defensive line with no more than 25 metres between defence and attack.<ref name="The greatest teams of all time: AC Milan 1988-90"/><ref name=90s/><ref name=revolution/><ref name="Game Changers"/><ref name=magician>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/nov/22/arrigo-sacchi-milan-italy|title=Arrigo Sacchi, the magician of Milan, begins to build a new Italy|date=22 November 2011|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Francesca Fanelli|title=1986, Berlusconi salva il Milan|trans-title=1986, Berlusconi saves Milan|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/624/2011/02/20-156773/1986,+Berlusconi+salva+il+Milan|publisher=Il Corriere dello Sport|language=it|date=20 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017005514/http://www.corrieredellosport.it/624/2011/02/20-156773/1986,+Berlusconi+salva+il+Milan|archive-date=17 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Franco Melli|title=l' Italia di Sacchi come l' Olanda di Cruyff|trans-title=Sacchi's Italy like Cruyff's Holland|url=http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/1992/gennaio/15/Italia_Sacchi_come_Olanda_Cruyff_co_0_9201152821.shtml|publisher=Il Corriere della Sera|access-date=25 May 2015|language=it|date=15 January 1992}}</ref> This style of pressing has been emulated successfully by [[José Mourinho]]'s [[FC Porto|Porto]],<ref name=revolution/> [[Pep Guardiola]]'s [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]],<ref name=90s/> [[Jürgen Klopp]]'s [[Borussia Dortmund]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://playupsports.wordpress.com/2013/05/25/borussia-dortmund-vs-bayern-munich-the-showdown-between-kloppo-and-osram/|title=Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern Munich: The showdown between 'Kloppo' and 'Osram'|date=25 May 2013|work=PlayUp}}</ref> and [[Jupp Heynckes]]'s Bayern Munich.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1641620-tactical-twins-arrigo-sacchis-milan-and-jupp-heynckes-bayern-munich|title=Tactical Twins: Arrigo Sacchi's Milan and Jupp Heynckes' Bayern Munich|date=16 May 2013|work=Bleacher Report}}</ref> His successor at Milan, [[Fabio Capello]], retained aspects of Sacchi's tactics and went on to win four ''[[List of Italian football champions|Scudetti]]'' in five seasons and the [[1993–94 UEFA Champions League|1993–94 Champions League]].<ref name=greatest/> Spanish coach [[Rafael Benítez]]  cites Sacchi as his role model and "the coach who has revolutionised football in the past 50 years".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rafabenitez.com/web/in/interviews/rafa-benitez-interview-in-el-grafico/1324/|title=Benítez interview in 'El Gráfico'|date=5 January 2012|work=Rafael Benítez}}</ref>

Sacchi has been frequently imitated in television by Italian comedian [[Maurizio Crozza]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://video.repubblica.it/spettacoli-e-cultura/crozza-e-di-nuovo-sacchi-nel-calcio-di-oggi-solo-avidite-priva-di-umilte-costacurta-tagliava-l-erba-di-san-siro/388151/388874 |title=Crozza è di nuovo Sacchi: 'Nel calcio di oggi solo avidité priva di umilté: Costacurta tagliava l'erba di San Siro' |work=La Repubblica |language=it |date=29 May 2021 |access-date=12 April 2024 }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=8|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}!!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}!!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}!!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}!!{{abbr|GF|Goals for}}!!{{abbr|GA|Goals against}}!!{{abbr|GD|Goal difference}}!!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
|-
|[[Rimini FC 1912|Rimini]]
|1982
|1983
{{WDL|43|15|13|15|for=39|against=39|diff=yes}}
|-
|Rimini
|1984
|1985
{{WDL|42|15|19|8|for=46|against=36|diff=yes}}
|-
|[[Parma Calcio 1913|Parma]]
|June 1985
|July 1987
{{WDL|88|34|38|16|for=80|against=46|diff=yes}}
|-
|[[AC Milan]]
|July 1987
|June 1991
{{WDL|196|109|58|29|for=307|against=114|diff=yes}}
|-
|[[Italy national football team|Italy]]
|November 1991
|June 1996
{{WDL|53|34|11|8|for=90|against=35|diff=yes}}
|-
|Milan
|December 1996
|June 1997
{{WDL|25|7|7|11|for=29|against=36|diff=yes}}
|-
|[[Atlético Madrid]]
|June 1998
|February 1999
{{WDL|30|15|5|10|for=52|against=32|diff=yes}}
|-
|Parma
|January 2001
|January 2001
{{WDL|3|1|2|0|for=4|against=2|diff=yes}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|480|230|153|97|for=647|against=340|diff=yes}}
|}

==Honours==
'''Parma'''<ref name="gazzettadiparma"/>
*[[Serie C1]]: [[1985–86 Serie C1|1985–86]]

'''Milan'''<ref name="SW">{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/coaches/arrigo-sacchi/222941/|title=A. Sacchi|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=31 March 2016}}</ref>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1987–88 Serie A|1987–88]]
*[[Supercoppa Italiana]]: [[1988 Supercoppa Italiana|1988]]
*[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]: [[1988–89 European Cup|1988–89]], [[1989–90 European Cup|1989–90]]
*[[UEFA Super Cup|European Super Cup]]: [[1989 European Super Cup|1989]], [[1990 European Super Cup|1990]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (football)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[1989 Intercontinental Cup|1989]], [[1990 Intercontinental Cup|1990]]
*[[Coppa Italia]] Runners-up: [[1989–90 Coppa Italia|1989–90]]

'''Italy'''<ref name=greatestmanagers/>
*[[FIFA World Cup]] Runners-up: [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994]]
'''Individual'''
*Seminatore d'Oro: 1988, 1989
*[[World Soccer Awards|World Soccer Awards Manager of the Year]]: 1989<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/world-soccer-awards-previous-winners-2-338433|title=World Soccer Awards – previous winners|publisher=World Soccer.com|author1=Jamie Rainbow|date=14 December 2012|access-date=21 December 2015}}</ref>
*Greatest Manager of All Time – one of 5 managers<ref>Along with [[Alex Ferguson]], [[Rinus Michels]], [[Valeriy Lobanovskyi]] and [[Helenio Herrera]]</ref> ranked top 10 by [[France Football]], [[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]] and [[ESPN]]<ref name="fakty">{{cite web|url=https://fakty.ua/412785-valerij-lobanovskij-popal-v-kompaniyu-luchshih-trenerov-vseh-vremen-na-kakom-meste-legenda-dinamo|title=Валерій Лобановський потрапив до компанії найкращих тренерів усіх часів: на якому місці легенда "Динамо"|publisher=[[Fakty i Kommentarii]]|access-date=25 December 2022|language=uk}}</ref>
**3rd place ([[France Football]]): 2019<ref name="Top6FF">{{cite web |url=https://www.francefootball.fr/magazine/?prov=W-HP-LBMU|title=Top 50 des coaches de l'historie|publisher=France Football |date=19 March 2019 |access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>
**6th place ([[World Soccer (magazine)#Greatest Managers of All Time|World Soccer]]): 2013<ref>{{cite web|title=The Greatest Manager of all time|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-manager-of-all-time-341473|publisher=World Soccer|author=Jamie Rainbow|date=4 July 2013}}</ref><ref name="Greatest XI">{{cite web|title=The Greatest XI: how the panel voted|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-xi-how-the-panel-voted|publisher=World Soccer|author=Jamie Rainbow|date=2 July 2013|access-date=5 December 2017|archive-date=1 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101233404/http://www.worldsoccer.com/features/the-greatest-xi-how-the-panel-voted|url-status=dead}}</ref>
**6th place ([[ESPN]]): 2013<ref name="espnfc">{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/news/story/_/id/1515274|title=Greatest Managers, No. 6: Arrigo Sacchi|publisher=ESPN FC |date=7 August 2013 |access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref>
*''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' Greatest Manager of All Time: 2nd place(2019)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/08/20/50-greatest-football-managers-all-time|title= The 50 Greatest Football Managers of All Time|publisher= Sports Illustrated |date=20 August 2019}}</ref>
*[[Italian Football Hall of Fame]]: 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acmilan.com/en/news/breaking_news_show/49563|title=BARESI, CAPELLO AND RIVERA ACCEPTED IN HALL OF FAME|website=acmilan.com|publisher=AC Milan|date=26 November 2013|access-date=20 April 2015}}</ref>
*[[UEFA President's Award]]: 2022<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/0278-15ef91d07ece-9aa7d4755b82-1000--arrigo-sacchi-to-receive-uefa-president-s-award/|title=Arrigo Sacchi to receive UEFA President's Award |website=UEFA.com|date=23 August 2022|access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Italy squads
| bg = #0066bc
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| list1 = 
{{Italy squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Italy squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Parma Calcio 1913 managers}}
{{AC Milan managers}}
{{Italy national football team managers}}
{{Atlético Madrid managers}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
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| list1 = 
{{Intercontinental Cup winning managers}}
{{European Cup / Champions League winning managers}}
{{UEFA Super Cup winning managers}}
{{Serie A winning managers}}
{{Italian Football Hall of Fame}}
{{UEFA President's Award}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sacchi, Arrigo}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from the Province of Ravenna]]
[[Category:AC Bellaria Igea Marina players]]
[[Category:Italian football managers]]
[[Category:Rimini FC 1912 managers]]
[[Category:Parma Calcio 1913 managers]]
[[Category:AC Milan managers]]
[[Category:Italy national football team managers]]
[[Category:Atlético Madrid managers]]
[[Category:Serie A managers]]
[[Category:La Liga managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League winning managers]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup managers]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1996 managers]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Spain]]
[[Category:Expatriate football managers in Spain]]