Allegri's Path

History, so to speak, has spiral development. Or history repeats itself. ‘Tutte le strade portano a Roma.’ Massimiliano Allegri, Arrigo Sacchi, Alberto Zaccheroni. Wait, what do all these surnames mean? What do they have in common? Or is this a ‘find the odd one out?’



Arrigo Sacchi



Arrigo Sacchi never was a professional footballer. “A jockey doesn't have to have been born a horse”. Sacchi as a fundamentalist tried to suit what was available to his vision. He didn’t need players who were not able to afford given instructions. Sacchi was hired when Milan was hungry as never before and quenched their trophy thirst in first spell at Milan. Sacchi didn’t invent new football but he gave the football his vision.

Alberto Zaccheroni

On the other side, Alberto Zaccheroni won the scudetto also in his first season as Milan coach. Zaccheroni won Panchina D’Oro at Udinese and won the Migliore Allenatore award right after the title. Zaccheroni tactics were non-traditional and fresh-looking but his football was seen through sooner than expected. After his first season Arrigo Sacchi brought two European Cups at Milan’s trophy room. After his first season Alberto Zaccheroni was never successful and Milan hit an interlunation period. Or transitional period, no matter the sound.

If we dig into tactical embellishments and make a thorough analysis, we risk being on the verge of treatise. But the most essential thing now is that spring is coming. Seasonal spring, League Champions spring. When it elapses the treatise will find it’s place.

Max Allegri

Allegri’s legacy will be put into right place. Shadows of coaches who won scudetto in first season stay at San Siro. But they are ghosts and Massimiliano is not. He decides the future: Sacchi turnaround or Zaccheroni turnaround. Allegro or lento.

Massimiliano Allegri, Arrigo Sacchi, Alberto Zaccheroni. Punctuation marks are conditional and perspective. Maybe Allegri’s reign is not destined to be among the greats, but there always a chance to clear the area for new Capello era. If only the latter is not at Juventus under the name of Antonio Conte.

Anton Krainov

Follow Anton on Twitter @sinkingbears