1. Alessandro Nesta was best known for his pace, artistic tackles, elegance on the ball, distribution and tight marking of opponents.
39 Facts About Alessandro Nesta
1. 2.
Alessandro Nesta made over 400 Serie A appearances in a 20-year career spread between Lazio and AC Milan, winning domestic and European honours with both clubs.
3.
Alessandro Nesta was a member of the Italy national team for a decade from his debut in 1996, earning 78 caps in total.
4.
Alessandro Nesta was a member of the Italian team that won the 2006 World Cup, and he represented the Italian side that reached the final of Euro 2000.
5.
Alessandro Nesta was first discovered by Francesco Rocca, a scout for Roma, but his father, a Lazio fan, turned down the offer.
6.
Alessandro Nesta began his youth career with Lazio in 1985, playing in various roles, including as a striker and midfielder, before being placed in the role of a defender.
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Alessandro Nesta was awarded the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year Award at the 1998 Italian footballing awards for his performance throughout the season.
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Alessandro Nesta is considered to be one of the best Lazio defenders.
9.
Alessandro Nesta won the Coppa Italia over Roma during his first season at the club, while Milan finished third in Serie A that season.
10.
Alessandro Nesta was awarded the Serie A Defender of the Year award for his performances, and was elected to be part of the UEFA Team of the Year.
11.
Milan were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League by Deportivo La Coruna, and in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, to eventual winners Lazio, although Alessandro Nesta managed to score a goal in the quarter-final match against Roma.
12.
Alessandro Nesta was elected to be part of the UEFA Team of the Year, for the third consecutive season.
13.
Alessandro Nesta began the next season by defeating his former team Lazio to capture the 2004 Supercoppa Italiana.
14.
Alessandro Nesta was elected to be part of both the UEFA Team of the Year and the FIFPro World XI for his performances that season.
15.
Alessandro Nesta signed a contract extension that would keep him at Milan until 2011.
16.
Alessandro Nesta fully recovered from his injuries and came on as 77th-minute substitute in Milan's final Serie A away match to Fiorentina on 31 May 2009 for his first competitive appearance of the season.
17.
Alessandro Nesta was elected to be part of the Serie A Team of the Year for his performances during Milan's successful title run that season.
18.
On 5 July 2012, Alessandro Nesta signed a contract with the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.
19.
Alessandro Nesta signed an 18-month contract on a free transfer.
20.
In 2013, Alessandro Nesta won his first and only title with Montreal Impact: the Canadian Championship.
21.
On 20 October 2013, Alessandro Nesta announced that he would be retiring at the conclusion of the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs after playing parts of two seasons with the Impact.
22.
On 28 November 2014, it was announced that Alessandro Nesta had signed for Chennaiyin FC of the Indian Super League for the remainder of the 2014 season.
23.
Alessandro Nesta was signed by Marco Materazzi, his former international defensive partner.
24.
Alessandro Nesta featured prominently as Italy topped their Euro 2004 qualifying group.
25.
Alessandro Nesta managed to stay injury free and played for a full 90 minutes in all three group games, helping Italy to keep a clean sheet in the opening draw against Denmark.
26.
On 31 August 2015, Alessandro Nesta was introduced as the first head coach of the newly formed Miami FC, which began play in the North American Soccer League in April 2016.
27.
Alessandro Nesta resigned as coach following the completion of the 2017 season, on 17 November.
28.
On 14 May 2018, Alessandro Nesta was appointed manager of Perugia.
29.
On 17 June 2019, Alessandro Nesta was appointed manager of Frosinone on a two-year contract.
30.
On 13 June 2023, Alessandro Nesta was appointed manager of Reggiana on a one-year contract.
31.
Alessandro Nesta's team finished 11th in Serie B in his only season.
32.
Alessandro Nesta replaced Raffaele Palladino, who had left for Fiorentina after helping the team to 12th place in their second season in the top flight.
33.
However on 10 February 2025, Alessandro Nesta was again reappointed as AC Monza's head coach just after 7 weeks of sacking him.
34.
Alessandro Nesta was a complete and dominant defender, who was influential both at club and international level, and who is regarded by pundits as being one of the greatest and most talented defenders both of his generation and of all time.
35.
Alessandro Nesta was excellent in the air, and was unusually quick for a centreback; he often stood out throughout his career for his pace, acceleration, and stamina.
36.
On 7 May 2007, Alessandro Nesta married his fiancee, Gabriela Pagnozzi, in a civil ceremony in Milan; the religious ceremony followed on 30 May 2007.
37.
Alessandro Nesta's nephew Gian Marco Nesta is a professional footballer.
38.
Alessandro Nesta appeared in the 1998 Italian film Paparazzi, directed by Neri Parenti.
39.
Alessandro Nesta was on the cover of the Italian edition of SCEE's This is Football 2002.