Alessandro Nesta

Alessandro Nesta, Cavaliere (born March 19, 1976 in Rome), is an Italian footballer. He plays centre back for AC Milan in Serie A. He has previously played for S.S. Lazio,and is widely considered one of the best defenders in the world. Nesta transferred to A.C. Milan from Lazio in 2002 for approximately €30 million paid over three years, after being valued at over £50 million by Lazio a year earlier.

Playing career

Nesta had a happy childhood growing up in the Cinecittà area of Rome. He attended "Margherita Bosco" primary school where he first started playing football. Fernando, Alessandro's older brother, was advised to play a sport because of a back problem, and enrolled at the local football club. Young Alessandro threw a tantrum till his father gave in and he was enrolled as well, thus marking the beginning of his career. Alessandro Nesta was first discovered by Francesco Rocca (Currently U-17 coach for Italy) a scout for A.S. Roma, but Nesta's father, a Lazio fan turned down the offer

In 1985, he joined Lazio's youth academy, where he rose through the ranks playing in various positions, including striker and midfielder before settling in defence. His international career first showed signs of growth when he played for the Italian national Under-15 and Under-16 sides. In 1993, he joined Lazio's first-team squad.

In 1996, Nesta was a member of the Italian Under-21 team that defeated Spain to win the European Under-21 Championship, picking up the award for best defender in the tournament along the way. He made his full international debut for Italy against Moldova on October 5, 1996. In 1997, he was given the captaincy of Lazio. It was in the 1997-98 season that Lazio won the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup), beating A.C. Milan in the final, with Nesta amongst the goal-scorers. In May 1998 he lost the UEFA Cup final with Lazio against Inter. This was followed however by a series of trophy wins including a Cup Winners' Cup and European Super Cup in 1999 and a rare Championship and Italian Cup double in 2000, not to mention two Italian Super Cup victories.

Just before the 2002-03 season Lazio was forced to sell Nesta because of serious financial problems to A.C. Milan. His sale didn't stop Lazio from going bankrupt. With Milan, Nesta has won the Scudetto (Italian Championship), Coppa Italia, Champions League and the European Super Cup.

Nesta has appeared over 70 times for the Italian national team and has been a mainstay in it since the late 1990s. He played for his country in Euro 96, the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2000, the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. On the June 7, 2006, edition of Pardon the Interruption, ESPN analyst Tommy Smyth proclaimed Nesta as the top defender and one of the top five players for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Other players in Smith's top five included Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Petr Cech, and Thierry Henry.

He was injured early on in the 2006 World Cup, in the group match against the Czech Republic, and played no further part in Italy's eventual triumph. This made it three times unlucky for Nesta, since he ruptured a knee ligament against Austria during France 1998 and had to sit out Italy's final game in Japan/Korea 2002 with an injured foot. Fortunately, he can now add the World Cup to his list of titles.

Also Unoficially Nicknamed "Birds Nest"

Personal

• Nesta's fiancée is Gabriela Pagnozzi (daughter of Raffaelle Pagnozzi, General Secretary of CONI).

• She is a specialist in economics and was working for "Casa Italia", the headquarters of the Azzurri, during the 1998 World Cup at France.

• He was injured after the World Cup game against Austria, Gabriela took care of him, and this is how this love story began. "I can say, I got the injury and her in France then. And the injury has gone, she has stayed with me." The two of them live together in Milan. Their daughter, Sofia, was born on October 19, 2006.