Sergio Cervato
{{short description|Italian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Sergio Cervato
| image = Serie A (ca. late 1950s) - AC Fiorentina captain Sergio Cervato.jpg
| caption = Cervato as Fiorentina captain in the late 1950s
| fullname = Sergio Cervato
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|10|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = Carmignano di Brenta, Italy
| death_date = {{death date and age|2005|10|9|1929|03|22|df=y}}
| death_place = Florence, Italy
| height =
| 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 ({{IPA|it|ˈsɛrdʒo tʃerˈvaːto}}; 22 March 1929 – 9 October 2005) was an Italian footballer who played as a defender.
Club career
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.
International career
With the Italy national team, Cervato obtained 28 international caps, scored 4 goals, and participated at the 1954 FIFA World Cup.
Style of play
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/it/news/2/serie-a/2010/03/15/1833664/cera-una-volta-il-football-parola-e-quella-rovesciata |title=C'era una volta il Football – Parola e quella rovesciata IMMORTALE |publisher=Goal |last1=Giusto |first1=Antonio |language=Italian |date=15 March 2010 |accessdate=17 May 2020 }}
Managing career
After he retired, Cervato managed the Pescara, Empoli, and Fiorentina youth teams.
Death
Cervato died at 76 years old in Florence.
Honours
- Serie A Winners: 1955–56; Runner-up: 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59
- European Cup Runner-up: 1956–57
- Coppa Italia Runner-up: 1958–59, 1959–60
- Serie A Winners: 1959–60, 1960–61
- Coppa Italia Winners: 1959–60
;Individual
- Serie A Team of The Year: 1951,{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?/6&f=9966&p=1&c=1#page/1/mode/2up |website=Biblioteca dello Sport |title=Corriere dello Sport 1951|access-date=28 January 2025 }} 1953,{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?/6&f=9327&p=1&c=1#page/3/mode/1up |website=Biblioteca dello Sport |title=Corriere dello Sport 1953|access-date=28 January 2025 }} 1954,{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?/?q=node/?q=node/6&f=9636&p=1&c=1#page/3/mode/1up |website=Biblioteca dello Sport |title=Corriere dello Sport 1954|access-date=28 January 2025 }} 1956{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?/6&f=10567&p=1&c=1#page/3/mode/1up |website=Biblioteca dello Sport |title=Corriere dello Sport 1956|access-date=28 January 2025 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090529090713/http://it.violachannel.tv/primo-scudetto.html] Scudetto 1955–56 Team
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20091123094832/http://www.football-italia.net/alltime/fiorentinaxi.html] Fiorentina All Time Eleven
- [https://www.rsssf.org/players/cervatodata.html] All Time Domestic Appearances
- [https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/cervato-intl.html] International Appearances
{{Italy squad 1954 FIFA World Cup}}
{{ACF Fiorentina Hall of Fame}}
{{Empoli FC managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cervato, Sergio}}
Category:Footballers from the Province of Padua
Category:Italian men's footballers
Category:Italy men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:ACF Fiorentina players
Category:1954 FIFA World Cup players
Category:Italian football managers