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A composed and intelligent Italian libero, Pierluigi Cera was one of the quiet tactical pillars of Italy’s late 1960s and early 1970s. Originally a midfielder, he carried that education into defence, giving him cleaner distribution, sharper positional sense and a calmer reading of the game than many classic markers of his era. At Cagliari, he became essential to the historic 1969-70 Scudetto side, offering balance behind a team built on discipline, compactness and Riva’s attacking power. With Italy, he was part of the Euro 1968 triumph and the 1970 World Cup run, adding elegance and reliability to a famously demanding defensive school. He was not a theatrical libero in the Beckenbauer mould, but a sober organiser with technique, intelligence and tactical authority
