In Italy, we must not forget they burned Giordano Buno, and I was seen as a heretic.

Welcome to It Was What It Was with me, Rob Draper and Jonathan Wilson.

And that was Irrigo Saki, the iconic Italian coach, comparing himself to

the great 16th century cosmologist Giordano Bruno, who was burned by the Inquisition for having

slightly dodgy views about religion, typically grandiose of Saki to compare himself to such a great figure who had such

an awful end. But, you know, Saki was never one for underestimated things and underplaying things

and his own legendary role. We are in part three of the story of Rigo Saki's life because we think

he is perhaps the most important figure

in modern European football history.

And if you haven't listened to our introduction episode of Jamie Carrague,

I do urge you to go back and listen to that.

Jamie Carrague is absolutely fantastic on O'Rigo Saki.

And also, obviously, listen to parts ones and two to catch up with the early part of his life.

But we have got to a point where he's at A.C. Milan and his great work is about to begin.

The iconic team, the legendary team, and that everybody remembers is about to be created.

So, Jonathan, why don't you set the scene? Tell us where we are and tell us how this all came about.

So Saki is appointed in. why don't you set the scene? Tell us where we are and tell us how this all came about.

So Saki is appointed in the March of 1987. It's not made public at that point. Niels Leitholm is still the coach. He gets booted out with six games to go. Fabio Capello, he'd been his assistant,

takes over those final six games.

Now, Leathoram had played a version of Zonal Marking, which was in itself controversial,

but there was nowhere near as radical as Saki's. He wasn't pressing in the same way.

And the appointment of Saki is a massive, I mean, I don't want to say it's a shock, actually,

...