Gaetano Scirea was an Italian football player who is considered one of the greatest defenders of all-time. Scirea is one of only five players in European football history to have won all international trophies for football clubs recognized by UEFA and FIFA. Scirea is also one of only nine players in the history of the European football that won all three major UEFA football competitions. He played for the Italian national team for more than a decade during which he was irreplaceable as the leading defender, keeping Franco Baresi out of the national team for four years until he retired in 1986. Scirea became a World Champion with the 1982 FIFA World Cup winning team, which defeated Brazil 3?2 in the quarter-final match and Germany 3?1 in the final. Scirea was a defender of skill and tactical ability. In contrast to the ruthless tactics often employed by other defenders, including his paired partner, Claudio Gentile, Scirea was renowned for his class, fair play and sportsmanship. Scirea never earned a red card in his career. He played the sweeper, or libero, role for most of his career, and contributed to the development of the position. 

May 25th, 1953 in Cernusco sul Naviglio  /  Died:   Sep 3rd, 1989