Alessandro Nesta

Alessandro Nesta, born 19 March 1976, is an Italian football coach and former centre-back who currently manages Serie B side Avellino. Regarded among the finest defenders ever, he was noted for his speed, clean tackling, graceful ball control, passing, and close marking. Over two decades, he made more than 400 Serie A appearances for Lazio and AC Milan, winning league and European trophies with both. He later played in Major League Soccer for Montreal Impact and in the Indian Super League for Chennaiyin. Nesta won Serie A Defender of the Year four times and was named to the UEFA Team of the Year four times. In 2004, FIFA included him among the Top 100 greatest living footballers for its centenary, and in 2021 he entered the Italian Football Hall of Fame.

Nesta represented Italy for a decade after his 1996 debut, earning 78 caps. He played at the 1996 Olympics, three European Championships, and three World Cups. He was part of the Italian squad that won the 2006 World Cup and also the team that reached the Euro 2000 final.