Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has once again spoke about his admiration for Arrigo Sacchi, Franco Baresi and the legendary AC Milan sides of the 1990s.
Carragher has often publicly stated that he grew up watching and loving the Milan side that dominated the European scene and that he is fascinated by the work of Sacchi and some of the defenders that wore the red and black shirt.
As part of of a special on The Overlap’s ‘It Was What It Was’ series, the ex-Liverpool captain spoke again about the legendary Italian coach and the defender who worked under him. You can listen to the full podcast here.
“The AC Milan team that he produced and then passed on was in most people’s eyes one of if not the greatest club side we’ve seen in modern times,” he said.
“And every great coach or manager of the last 15-20 years, whenever you ask them who their idol was or who was their inspiration, Sacchi is normally at the top of that list.
“If you asked me my favourite player of all time I’d say Franco Baresi because of basically the hold he had on that team and the organisation, the concentration levels that would have been needed to organise that team on the pitch.”
🧵If you were to ask me who created the football we play today, I would say Arrigo Sacchi + Johan Cruyff
That’s why @jonawils and I are so excited @ItWasPod to have @Carra23 launch our series on Sacchi: The Genius Who Revolutionised Football ….https://t.co/s3HJdqUXYY pic.twitter.com/j1jUYfiH0Y
— Rob Draper (@draper_rob) October 1, 2024
Sacchi is regarded as a visionary with a unique story given he went from coaching at a low level to winning the Serie A title in his 1987–88 debut season and then dominating European football by winning back to back European Cups in 1989 and 1990.
Baresi meanwhile spent his 20-year career with Serie A club Milan, captaining the club for 15 seasons, winning three UEFA Champions League titles, six Serie A titles, four Supercoppa Italiana titles, two European Super Cups and two International Cups, as well as a World Cup with Italy.
And still we have professed AC Milan “fans” who continually criticize him for just being lucky that he had the players available that he had because according to them he wasn’t a great and innovative coach who actually has been an inspiration for coaches like Ancelotti, Klopp and Guardiola.
Spice that up with the regular accusations that he is a racist and that he should just stay quiet because he knows nothing and they know much better.
Unfortunately those notions sums it up pretty well. Sigh…
I also don’t think ppl have seen Sacchi’s side in full stride (as I say this as someone who was in younger years when his football methods were employed). It was like a video game. U press a button and the entire team just moved up in synchronization and pressing while doing so..it was a spectacle. The way we pressed was insane looking back at it now. Guardiola himself admitted that his team mimicked alot of football from Sacchi (and in combo with the Dutch school).
You can have superstars, it doens mean you’ll win. You need a proper coach. It reminds me of basketball in some regard. Kobe and Shaq really only started to win until Phil Jackson came in. Jordan too.
Well I did and he certainly is one of the revolutionizers of the game regardless if some of our misguided supporters doesn’t think so. Pretty the teams under Sacchi back then would be able to play up against the best teams after that era.
Yeah I agree if it was only about buying hyped up players or super stars surely teams like Chelsea and City who has been on a spending spree for the last 2-3 decades would have won a lot more cl trophies than they have done.
Even though I know those basketbal players my knowledge of the sport is far more limited than in regard of football so I wouldn’t really know but there is no doubt nevertheless that coaches pays their part and same goes for tight knitted groups with consistency and coherency,
….Pretty sure the teams under Sacchi….
It’s a sad really the lack of respect shown to the people who made AC Milan what it is now. I value those people highly. Sachhi, Gullit, Van B, Baresi, Maldini, Weah, Sheva, Kaka, Seedorf the list is long. I really don’t understand why any fan wouldn’t want them to succeed in whatever endeavors they would be pursuing much less at the club itself. I have a huge sense of attachment to them.
Fully agree and feel the same way. Cried when Van Basten had to retire and always supported and will support those people you mentioned.
Martin you Are Right
I wait for the stupid kid without a nickname
Martin: Rassist is the Argument for Kids which do Not read Books and have Never Seen an university from inside!
I like Martin
I’m sure you are right that there will be an influx of replies in that regard but wasn’t really taking shots at anyone specific as I doesnt remember who has said it and to be honest I think that there has been several trying to use that sort of arguments because he wants a more Italian identity in the clubs.
Thanks fr the kind words.
Martin: the mood against Italians here is not normal! Is Not possible to Train Karate and to hate the japanese
I’m not even Italian myself but part of the lure of each league is also the locals participations and the history and traditions of said countries and clubs.
If it was up to me all leagues around should have rules about fielding a minimum of 66-75% of its players being natives and it would also strengthen the identity and reinforce the national teams.
Yeah that would be some sight to see someone bashing Japanese culture if they practised karate themselves.
That team of the 80s got me hooked…my love for this team started then…sad how far we have fallen.
I prefer the final 1994: Milan vs. Barca
8 Italians vs. 8 Spaniards
But I think 1994 was Not possible without the sacchi times
Martin: You Are a Friends of good and Open Words! Do you know if there a big number of Italians in Denmark
Thank you. I think its probably only in the thousands. I think Italians immigrate more to countries like England, Germany, France and Switzerland, In Denmark I think the biggest group of immigrants is Turks and people from the Balkans and some Middle eastern countries but that is more what I would call a qualified guess but overall I think maybe roughly 10% of the population is from other countries but again just a guess on my behalf.
Ok I know that the Most persons with italian Heritage live in Germany, usa, Brazil, Argentina, belgium, France and Swiss
Sao Paulo has got. more inhabitants with italian Heritage than Milan!