AC Milan great Arrigo Sacchi to receive UEFA President’s Award at UCL draw
Two-time European Cup-winning coach Arrigo Sacchi is to become the fourth Italian recipient of the UEFA President’s Award at Thursday’s UCL group stage draw.
AC Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi is to receive the UEFA president’s sward at Thursday’s Champions League group stage draw.
The award, presented at the start of each season to recognise “outstanding achievements that transcend the sport”, was won by Milan defender Simon Kjaer and Denmark’s medical team last year for their response to Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
🏅🇮🇹 The UEFA President's Award goes to…Arrigo Sacchi!
— UEFA (@UEFA) August 23, 2022
UEFA president, Aleksander Čeferin - “The endless tactical innovations he introduced are today the foundations of any footballing playbook, mirrored by generations of coaches who have followed”.
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UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin hailed Sacchi, who will follow in the footsteps of previous Italian recipients Paolo Maldini, Gianni Rivera and Francesco Totti, for his “endless tactical innovations” which “reshaped” football.
Sacchi was credited with transforming the game by implementing a high-octane pressing style during a four-year spell as Milan coach between 1987 and 1991, winning one Serie A title before lifting back-to-back European Cups in 1989 and 1990.
The tactician later came within a spot-kick of glory as Italy boss, overseeing the Azzurri’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Brazil in the 1994 World Cup final.
Ceferin said: “This award recognises professional excellence and furthermore, it honours the legacy left by exceptional individuals in the game of football.