Franco Bertini

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGianfranco "Franco"•Bertini
Used nameFranco•Bertini
Nick/petnamesIl Ragno
Born28 August 1938 in Pesaro, Pesaro e Urbino (ITA)
Measurements184 cm / 74 kg
AffiliationsGira Bologna, Bologna (ITA)
NOC Italy

Biography

As a playmaker, Franco Bertini won the 1956 Italian youth basketball title with his home-town club, Victoria Benelli (Pesaro). Two years later, he moved to Simmenthal Milano and, alongside famous players like Giambattista Cescutti, Sandro Gamba, Gianfranco Pieri and Sandro Riminucci, he won his only Italian title, at the age of 20. A move to Pallacanestro Varese saw Bertini finish second in the League behind his former club, Milano, in 1962 and 1963. After a year with Fides Gira Bologna, he returned to Pesaro, where he ended his career in 1974, before becoming a journalist.

Bertini made his international début against Hungary in 1958 and competed in the 1963 and 1967 Mediterranean Games, winning gold and silver respectively. He also competed in the 1963 World Championship, 1964 Olympics, when Italy suffered a shock defeat by the hosts, in a match played at nine o’clock in the morning, and the 1965 European Championship, when Italy finished fourth. Bertini won 80 international caps, and scored 435 points.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1964 Summer Olympics Basketball (Basketball) ITA Franco Bertini
Basketball, Men (Olympic) Italy 5

Special Notes