Arrigo Sacchi

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Lore & Background

Sacchi was never a professional football player and, for many years, worked as a shoe salesman. This led to his famous quote: 'I never realised that in order to become a jockey you have to have been a horse first.' Another famous Sacchi quote is that 'football is the most important of the least important things in life.'

In Their Own Story

The 1994 World Cup final in Pasadena. Sacchi's Italy, built on a core of Milan defenders and the genius of Roberto Baggio, had clawed their way through the tournament after a shaky group stage. They faced Brazil in the first ever World Cup final decided by a penalty shoot-out. After a tense 0-0 draw, Italy fell 3-2 on penalties. Sacchi had led the Azzurri to their first final since 1982, but the ultimate prize slipped away in the most dramatic fashion.

Reader's Guide

Sacchi won the Serie A title in his debut season and then dominated European football by winning back to back European Cups in 1989 and 1990. From 1991 to 1996, he was head coach of Italy and led them to the 1994 FIFA World Cup final, where they lost to Brazil in a penalty shoot-out.

Did You Know?

• Sacchi started his career managing his local club, Baracca Lugo, because he was not good enough to play for them.
• He led Parma to promotion in his first season and later attracted interest from AC Milan after his Parma side beat Milan in the Coppa Italia.
• Sacchi's Milan became the first team to retain the European Cup since 1980, and the last until Real Madrid did so 27 years later.
• Under Sacchi, Italy reached the 1994 World Cup final, their first since 1982.