August 23 – Italy’s Arrigo Sacchi (pictured) will be presented with the 2022 UEFA President’s Award at the Champions League group draw, on Thursday 25 August at the Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul.
“This award recognises professional excellence and furthermore, it honours the legacy left by exceptional individuals in the game of football,” said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin.
“Very few people have reshaped the philosophy of the game in the way that Arrigo Sacchi has managed, so that the sport itself can be observed in two eras – pre- and post-Sacchi. The endless tactical innovations he introduced are today the foundations of any footballing playbook, mirrored by generations of coaches who have followed,” said UEFA President.
Sacchi started his coaching career in Serie C, with the philosophy a team should dominate the game with high pressing and direct play. He took this style of play with him AC Milan in 1987/88, with the club winning its first title in nine years, followed by back-to-back European Champion Clubs’ Cup triumphs in 1989 and 1990.
Sacchi led Italy to the 1994 FIFA World Cup final, which the Azzurri lost on penalties to Brazil.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1713416853labto1713416853ofdlr1713416853owedi1713416853sni@n1713416853osloh1713416853cin.l1713416853uap1713416853