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Luigi Bertolini

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Italian footballer (1904–1977)

Luigi Bertolini
Bertolini with Juventus in the 1930s
Personal information
Full name Luigi Bertolini
Date of birth 13 November 1904
Place of birth Busalla, Italy
Date of death 11 February 1977(1977-02-11) (aged 72)
Place of death Turin, Italy
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1924–1925 Borsalino ? (?)
1925–1926 Savona 19 (9)
1926–1931 US Alessandria 119 (6)
1931–1937 Juventus 137 (5)
1937–1940 Tigullia ? (?)
International career
1929–1935 Italy 26 (0)
Managerial career
1937–1940 Tigullia
1946–1947 Acireale
1947–1948 Reggina
1951 Juventus
1952 Brescia
1952–1953 Cuneo
1953–1955 Cenisia
1965–1966 Chieri
Medal record
 Italy
Central European International Cup
Silver medal – second place 1931–32 Central European International Cup
FIFA World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1934 Italy
Central European International Cup
Gold medal – first place 1933–35 Central European International Cup
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Luigi Bertolini (Italian pronunciation: [luˈiːdʒi bertoˈliːni]; 13 September 1904 – 11 February 1977) was an Italian footballer who played as a midfielder.

Club career

Born in Busalla, province of Genoa, Bertolini played in the 1920s for Savona, Alessandria and Juventus. He moved from Alessandria to Juventus in 1931, becoming an integral part of the remainder of their five-year championship run. In total, he played 137 matches for Juventus, scoring five goals, helping the team to win four Serie A tournaments. He retired from playing football in 1940.

International career

With the Italy national football team, Bertolini made his debut in 1929, and was a member of the teams that was runner-up at the 1931-32 Central European International Cup & winner at the 1933–35 Central European International Cup but most notably he was also a member of the team that won the 1934 FIFA World Cup. Alongside Luisito Monti and Attilio Ferraris, Luigi Bertolini made up the legendary Italian midfield established at the 1934 World Cup. In that tournament he started every game and was only rested by Pozzo in the first quarter-final encounter against Spain. Bertolini is very recognisable in the photos of the 1934 Italian World Cup-winning team by virtue of his big white bandana which he used to protect his head from the seams of the ball when attempting headers. He was also one of the 'Lions of Highbury' in the narrow loss to England in November 1934 known as the Battle of Highbury. As the story goes, during the second half he was disoriented from fatigue and with the English constantly in attack, he kept calling out for Luisito not realising that Monti was not on the field (due to a broken bone) and the midline was just himself and Ferraris.

Managerial career

Following his retirement, Bertolini began his coaching career with Tigullia in 1938.

Honours

Club

Juventus
Tigullia

International

Italy

References

Italy squad – 1934 FIFA World Cup winners (1st title)
Italy
Juventus FC – managers
(c) = caretaker manager
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