Former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has revealed the first thing he told Silvio Berlusconi when he was appointed by the Rossoneri back in 1987 while paying tribute to the late former Prime Minister.
Sacchi described Berlusconi as a ‘generous’ man and ‘brilliant friend’ to whom he owes a great deal. Together, they led Milan to their first Serie A title in nine years, as well as two consecutive European Cup titles in 1989 and 1990.
“I feel bad, despite everything I did not expect this, he was a brilliant friend to whom I owe everything,” Sacchi told ANSA on a phone call on Monday morning.
“Silvio Berlusconi was a generous man and tried to change this difficult country, formed by individualists. Was he one too? No, he thought with togetherness and he could look far away.”
Sacchi then revealed that he couldn’t quite believe his luck when he was appointed as coach of Milan in the late 1980s, and thought that Berlusconi must have been a little bit out there to hand him such a prestigious opportunity.
“When he hired me, I told him: ‘You are either crazy or a genius.’ Given the results, I found the answer,” Sacchi said.
Sacchi eventually coached the Rossoneri for five seasons under Berlusconi, with all of his trophies coming during his initial four-year spell at San Siro. He left to become CT of the Italy national team in 1991, before returning to Milan for half a season between December 1996 and June 1997.