Alessandro Nesta: biography

Alessandro Nesta is an Italian professional footballer and part of the team that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup under Marcello Lippi. A central defender, he has only ever played for two clubs; first, S. S. Lazio, based in Rome which he captained, and from 2002 to the present, A. C. Milan.

Beginnings

Born in the town of Rieti on 19 March 1976, Nesta grew up in the Italian capital. The Margherita Bosco primary school was where he first began to play football. Despite an approach from AS Roma, he came from a family that supported Lazio and enrolled in their academy aged nine. Progressing through the ranks, Alessandro played in a variety of positions before deciding on center back.

Career

Making his Lazio debut in 1993, Nesta famously broke teammate Paul Gascoigne’s leg in a training ground accident. He represented his country at youth level and off the back of their 1996 UEFA Under-21 European Championship win he was promoted to the senior side. Alessandro made his Italy debut in October 1996 against Moldova. His consistent performances earned him the captaincy of Lazio in 1997 and Nesta enjoyed five more highly successful years with his hometown club. Despite being somewhat injury prone he was sold to A. C. Milan in the summer of 2002 for a fee of approximately €30 million due to the financial difficulties endured by the Rome-based side. At Milan he formed a partnership with one of the greatest defenders of all time in Paolo Maldini. Citing his injury problems and the desire to prolong his club career, Nesta retired from international football in 2006 after Italy’s triumph in Germany, earning 78 caps. Unlucky in major tournaments with staying fit, all three of his World Cups ended early. National coach Roberto Donadoni made an approach to Alessandro to consider a comeback for Euro 2008, but he declined. A number of serious back problems kept Nesta out for the whole 2008-09 season, but he was able to return strongly the following year. When fit he remains A. C. Milan’s first choice center half.

Achievements

At club level Alessandro has won the Coppa Italia three times (1998 and 2000 with Lazio and 2003 with Milan) and was the last captain to lift the UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup in 1999. He also won the Scudetto twice (Lazio 1999-2000 under Sven-Goran Eriksson and at Milan in 2003-2004) as well as the Champions League in 2003 and 2007 during Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure at the San Siro. These accompany numerous lesser club honours. After winning the World Cup in 2006 with his country Nesta and the entire squad were given the Italian Order of Merit.