Sergio Cervato | |
Fullname: | Sergio Cervato |
Birth Date: | 22 October 1929 |
Birth Place: | Carmignano di Brenta, Italy |
Death Place: | Florence, Italy |
Position: | Left back |
Youthyears1: | 1946–1947 |
Youthclubs1: | Tombolo |
Years1: | 1947–1948 |
Years2: | 1948–1959 |
Years3: | 1959–1961 |
Years4: | 1961–1965 |
Clubs1: | Bolzano |
Clubs2: | Fiorentina |
Clubs3: | Juventus |
Clubs4: | SPAL |
Caps1: | 17 |
Goals1: | 0 |
Caps2: | 316 |
Goals2: | 31 |
Caps3: | 62 |
Goals3: | 7 |
Caps4: | 91 |
Goals4: | 7 |
Totalcaps: | 486 |
Totalgoals: | 45 |
Manageryears1: | 1966–1967 |
Manageryears2: | 1967–1968 |
Manageryears3: | 1968–1970 |
Manageryears4: | 1961–1963 |
Managerclubs1: | Pescara |
Managerclubs2: | Trani |
Managerclubs3: | Empoli |
Nationalyears1: | 1951–1960 |
Nationalteam1: | Italy |
Nationalcaps1: | 28 |
Nationalgoals1: | 4 |
Sergio Cervato (pronounced as /it/; 22 March 1929 – 9 October 2005) was an Italian footballer who played as a defender.
Cervato was born in Carmignano di Brenta, province of Padua. Playing for Fiorentina, he formed a formidable defensive partnership with Ardico Magnini; despite being a left-back, however, Cervato often contributed to the Viola's attacks, scoring 31 goals during his 10 years in Florence.
During the 1955–56 Serie A season, Cervato won the Serie A title ("Scudetto") with Fiorentina as the club's captain, his only title with the club; the 1955–56 title-winning side under Fulvio Bernardini lost just one game – the last one at Genoa – and is regarded as one of the best Serie A teams of all time. Following the team's Serie A triumph, the squad narrowly missed out on several more league titles, finishing as runners-up for the next four consecutive years in 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960. During his time with Fiorentina, Cervato also helped the club to reach the 1957 European Cup Final; despite a strong performance, Fiorentina were defeated 2–0 by Real Madrid.
After leaving the Florence side in 1959, Cervato won 2 more league titles with Fiorentina's rivals Juventus. He ended his career in 1965 with Spal Ferrara in Serie B. In Serie A he played a total of 466 matches and scored 45 goals.
With the Italy national team, Cervato obtained 28 international caps, scored 4 goals, and participated at the 1954 FIFA World Cup.
One of the finest defenders of Serie A, Cervato was a quick and tireless competitor. As a left-back, he often contributed to his team's attacks; he also boasted a fierce shot and took both penalties and free-kicks.[1]
After he retired, Cervato managed the Pescara, Empoli, and Fiorentina youth teams.
Cervato died at 76 years old in Florence.