As a professional player, Brighenti played as a forward at both club and international levels before beginning his coaching career.
Brighenti made his professional debut in 1949 and played for Modena, Internazionale, Triestina, Padova, Sampdoria and Torino, winning two consecutive Serie A titles with Inter in 1953 and 1954.
[2] Brighenti was a quick, hardworking, and dynamic centre-forward with good technical ability and a powerful, accurate shot, who was known for his team–play as well as his eye for goal; as such, his role was more akin to that of a "centravanti di manovra," in Italian football jargon (literally translating to "manoeuvring centre-forward"), which was similar to that of a second striker, and a precursor to the modern false 9 roles.
[1] Brighenti retired as a player in 1965 and began his first football management job with Varese in 1968.
This biographical article related to association football in Italy, about a forward born in the 1930s, is a stub.