Alessandro Nesta facts for kids
Nesta with Miami FC in 2016
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Alessandro Nesta | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 19 March 1976 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Rome, Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1993 | Lazio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–2002 | Lazio | 193 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2012 | AC Milan | 224 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | Montreal Impact | 31 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Chennaiyin | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 451 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Italy U21 | 9 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2006 | Italy | 78 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Miami FC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Perugia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Frosinone | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Reggiana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Monza | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Monza | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alessandro Nesta (born 19 March 1976) is a famous Italian football coach and former player. He played as a centre-back, which is a defender who plays in the middle of the field. Many people think he is one of the best defenders of all time. He was known for his speed, amazing tackles, and how well he could pass the ball. He was also very good at marking opponents, meaning he stayed close to them to stop them from scoring.
Nesta played over 400 games in Serie A, Italy's top football league. He played for Lazio and AC Milan for 20 years. With these clubs, he won many important trophies in Italy and Europe. Later in his career, he played for the Montreal Impact in the Major League Soccer (MLS) in North America. He also played for Chennaiyin in the Indian Super League. Nesta won the Serie A Defender of the Year award four times. He was also chosen for the annual UEFA Team of the Year four times. In 2004, he was named one of the Top 100 greatest living footballers. In 2021, he joined the Italian Football Hall of Fame.
Nesta was also a key player for the Italian national team for ten years, starting in 1996. He played 78 games for Italy. He played in the 1996 Olympics, three UEFA European Championships, and three FIFA World Cups. Nesta was part of the Italian team that won the 2006 World Cup. He also played for Italy when they reached the final of Euro 2000.
Contents
Playing Career: Club Highlights
Lazio: Early Days and First Trophies
Alessandro Nesta started his football journey with Lazio in 1985. He played in different positions, like a striker and midfielder, before becoming a defender. He joined the first team in the 1993–94 season. On 13 March 1994, he played his first game against Udinese.
In 1997, Nesta became the team captain. He helped Lazio win the Coppa Italia in 1998 against AC Milan. He even scored a goal in the final game. That same season, Lazio reached the UEFA Cup Final but lost to Inter Milan. Nesta won the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year award in 1998.
The next year, he was out for almost half the season because of injuries. But he came back in December and led Lazio in the race for the league title. They lost by just one point on the last day. However, he helped Lazio win two international trophies: the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and the European Super Cup against Manchester United.
In the 1999–2000 season, Nesta led Lazio to win both the Scudetto (Italian league title) and the Coppa Italia. This meant they won the "double." He continued to play very well, winning the Serie A Defender of the Year award three times in a row from 2000 to 2002. Due to financial problems at Lazio, Nesta was sold to AC Milan in 2002. He is remembered as one of Lazio's best defenders.
AC Milan: European Success
In 2002, Nesta moved to AC Milan. There, he became part of a very strong defense with players like Paolo Maldini and Cafu. His first two seasons with Milan were very successful. In the 2002–03 season, he won the Champions League for the first time. Milan beat Juventus in an all-Italian final. The game ended 0–0, and Nesta scored his penalty in the shootout, helping Milan win. He also won the Coppa Italia that season. Nesta was again named Serie A Defender of the Year and was part of the UEFA Team of the Year.
The next season, Milan won the European Super Cup and his second Scudetto. Milan set a record for points in a Serie A season. Nesta was chosen for the UEFA Team of the Year for the third time in a row.
In 2005, Milan reached the Champions League final again but lost to Liverpool on penalties. Even though they finished second in both the league and Champions League, Nesta was chosen for the FIFPro World XI (a team of the best players in the world).
Nesta missed most of the 2006–07 season due to a shoulder injury. But he came back to help Milan win the Champions League again in 2007, beating Liverpool 2–1. He was chosen for both the UEFA Team of the Year and the FIFPro World XI that season.
In 2007, Nesta won his third European Super Cup with Milan. He also scored an important goal in the final of the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, which Milan won.
Serious back injuries kept Nesta out for almost the entire 2008–09 season. But he made a full recovery and returned to play. In the 2010–11 season, Nesta formed a great defensive partnership with Thiago Silva. They helped Milan win the Serie A title, letting in very few goals. Nesta was part of the Serie A Team of the Year for this successful season.
Nesta started his final season with Milan by winning the 2011 Supercoppa Italiana in Beijing. On 10 May 2012, Nesta announced he would leave Serie A at the end of the season. In his ten years at Milan, he played 325 games and scored 10 goals. With Milan, he won two Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, two Supercoppa Italiana, two Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, and one FIFA Club World Cup.
Montreal Impact: A New Adventure
On 5 July 2012, Nesta joined the Montreal Impact in Major League Soccer (MLS). He played his first game for them on 24 July in a friendly match. Three days later, he made his official debut in a win against the New York Red Bulls. In 2013, Nesta won his only title with Montreal Impact: the Canadian Championship.
On 20 October 2013, Nesta announced he would retire from playing football after the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Chennaiyin: Final Games
On 28 November 2014, Nesta signed with Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League for the rest of the 2014 season. He was signed by his former teammate Marco Materazzi. He played his first game on 9 December.
International Career: Playing for Italy
Youth and Early Senior Career
Nesta played for Italy's youth teams. He was part of the under-21 squad that won the 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. In the final against Spain, he scored a penalty in the shootout to help Italy win. A few months later, he was chosen for Italy's UEFA Euro 1996 squad, but he did not play. Later that year, he played in the Summer Olympics.
On 5 October 1996, Nesta played his first game for the Italy national football team in a World Cup qualifier against Moldova. At the 1998 World Cup, Nesta played in all three group games. He helped Italy keep a clean sheet against Cameroon. However, he got injured and could not play in later games as Italy lost in the quarter-finals.
UEFA Euro 2000 and 2002 World Cup
Nesta was a key defender for Italy at UEFA Euro 2000. He played alongside Paolo Maldini and Fabio Cannavaro. Italy only let in two goals on their way to the final. They kept three clean sheets, including against Belgium and Romania. In the semi-final, Italy beat the Netherlands in a penalty shootout. Italy reached the final but lost to France in extra time. Nesta was chosen for the team of the tournament.
Nesta continued to be a first-choice defender for Italy in the 2002 World Cup. He played with Fabio Cannavaro and helped Italy keep a clean sheet against Ecuador. But again, an injury stopped him from playing in the second round, where Italy lost to South Korea. Nesta also played in UEFA Euro 2004, where Italy was eliminated in the first round.
2006 World Cup Victory and Retirement
Nesta was in the starting lineup for Italy at the 2006 World Cup. He helped Italy keep a clean sheet in their first win against Ghana. However, he got injured in the last group game against the Czech Republic. This injury meant he could not play for the rest of the tournament. Even without him, Italy went on to win the World Cup trophy!
After the World Cup, Nesta played one more game for Italy in October 2006. But ongoing injuries forced him to retire from the national team. He turned down invitations to return for UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He played 78 games for Italy in total.
Managerial Career
Miami FC
On 31 August 2015, Alessandro Nesta became the first head coach of the new Miami FC team. They started playing in the NASL in April 2016. In his second season, Miami FC finished first in the league. However, they lost in the playoffs semifinal. Nesta resigned as coach on 17 November 2017.
Perugia
On 14 May 2018, Nesta became the manager of Perugia. After a loss in the 2018–19 Serie B promotion playoffs, Nesta left Perugia on 21 May 2019.
Frosinone
On 17 June 2019, Nesta was appointed manager of Frosinone. The team finished 8th in the 2019–20 Serie B season and made it to the playoffs. They lost the playoff final. Nesta was sacked on 22 March 2021.
Reggiana
On 13 June 2023, Nesta became the manager of Reggiana. His team finished 11th in Serie B in his only season.
Monza
On 12 June 2024, Monza, a team in Serie A, announced Nesta as their new head coach. He missed his first game due to a suspension. He debuted on 24 August with a loss to Genoa. On 23 December 2024, Nesta was removed from his coaching role after a series of losses. However, on 10 February 2025, Nesta was reappointed as Monza's head coach.
How Alessandro Nesta Played
Nesta was a truly amazing defender. Many experts believe he is one of the best defenders ever. Even though he was strong and athletic, he was also very graceful and agile. He had excellent balance, ball control, and could pass the ball very well. This meant he could start attacks from the back after winning the ball. People often compared him to Franco Baresi, another legendary Milan captain.
Nesta usually played as a centre-back, but he could play anywhere in defense. He was very good in the air, meaning he was great at heading the ball. He was also surprisingly fast for a defender.
Besides his skills, Nesta was very smart on the field. He could read the game well and predict what opponents would do. This helped him stop attacks and win the ball. He was known for his "artistic" sliding tackles and amazing clearances. He was also very good at timing his challenges perfectly. Sadly, Nesta's career was affected by many injuries. These injuries often stopped him from playing in the important knockout stages of the World Cups he was in.
Personal Life
On 7 May 2007, Nesta married his fiancée, Gabriela Pagnozzi. Gabriela worked for the Italian national team during the 1998 World Cup. Their relationship started when she helped him after an injury he got during that tournament. Nesta once said, "I can say, I got the injury and her in France then. And the injury has gone, [but] she has stayed with me." They have a daughter named Sofia, born on 19 October 2006, and a son named Tommaso, born on 20 March 2008. His nephew, Gian Marco Nesta, is also a professional footballer.
Media Appearances
Nesta appeared in the 1998 Italian film Paparazzi. He was also on the cover of the Italian version of the video game This is Football 2002. Nesta is featured in EA Sports' FIFA football video game series. He has been included as an Ultimate Team Legend/Icon since FIFA 16.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Lazio | 1993–94 | Serie A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | |
| 1994–95 | Serie A | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 | 0 | ||
| 1995–96 | Serie A | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 28 | 0 | ||
| 1996–97 | Serie A | 25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 33 | 0 | ||
| 1997–98 | Serie A | 30 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 1 | – | 49 | 2 | ||
| 1998–99 | Serie A | 20 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | – | 26 | 1 | ||
| 1999–2000 | Serie A | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 0 | |
| 2000–01 | Serie A | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 39 | 0 | |
| 2001–02 | Serie A | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | – | 32 | 0 | ||
| Total | 193 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 44 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 261 | 3 | ||
| AC Milan | 2002–03 | Serie A | 29 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 0 | – | 48 | 2 | |
| 2003–04 | Serie A | 26 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 1 | |
| 2004–05 | Serie A | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| 2005–06 | Serie A | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | – | 42 | 1 | ||
| 2006–07 | Serie A | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | – | 22 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | Serie A | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 39 | 2 | |
| 2008–09 | Serie A | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Serie A | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | – | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2010–11 | Serie A | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | – | 35 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | Serie A | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 1 | |
| Total | 224 | 7 | 17 | 2 | 78 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 326 | 10 | ||
| Montreal Impact | 2012 | MLS | 8 | 0 | – | – | – | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2013 | MLS | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 26 | 0 | ||
| Total | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
| Chennaiyin | 2014 | Indian Super League | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 451 | 8 | 41 | 3 | 123 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 624 | 13 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 1996 | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 78 | 0 | |
Managerial Statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | ||||
| Miami FC |  |
31 August 2015 | 17 November 2017 | 71 | 35 | 17 | 19 | 111 | 78 | +33 | 49.30 |
| Perugia |  |
14 May 2018 | 21 May 2019 | 40 | 14 | 8 | 18 | 52 | 61 | −9 | 35.00 |
| Frosinone | |
17 June 2019 | 22 March 2021 | 77 | 28 | 23 | 26 | 86 | 84 | +2 | 36.36 |
| Reggiana | |
13 June 2023 | 12 June 2024 | 39 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 39 | 47 | −8 | 25.64 |
| Monza | |
12 June 2024 | 23 December 2024 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 28 | −10 | 10.00 |
| Monza | |
12 February 2025 | Present | 14 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 30 | −23 | 7.14 |
| Total | 260 | 90 | 75 | 95 | 312 | 326 | −14 | 34.62 | |||
Honours and Awards
Player Trophies
Lazio
- Serie A: 1999–2000
- Coppa Italia: 1997–98, 1999–2000
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2000
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1998–99
- UEFA Super Cup: 1999
AC Milan
- Serie A: 2003–04, 2010–11
- Coppa Italia: 2002–03
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2004, 2011
- UEFA Champions League: 2002–03, 2006–07
- UEFA Super Cup: 2003, 2007
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2007
Montreal Impact
- Canadian Championship: 2013
Italy U-21
Italy National Team
- FIFA World Cup: 2006
- UEFA European Championship runner-up: 2000
Individual Awards
- Serie A Young Footballer of the Year: 1998
- Serie A Defender of the Year: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
- Serie A Team of the Year: 2010–11
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007
- ESM Team of the Year: 2000–01
- Onze de Onze: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
- FIFPro World XI: 2005, 2007
- FIFA 100 (Top 100 greatest living footballers)
- UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll: No. 47
- AC Milan Hall of Fame
- All-time UEFA European Under-21 Championship dream team: 2015
- UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year (published 2015)
- Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2021
Manager Trophies
Miami
- North American Soccer League: 2017 Spring/Fall champions
Special Honors
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5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2000
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4th Class / Officer: Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 2006
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CONI: Golden Collar of Sports Merit: 2006
See also
In Spanish: Alessandro Nesta para niños
