Alessandro Nesta | MLSsoccer.com

PROFESSIONAL
2011/2012: Won his second Supercoppa Italiana in career, against Inter Milan… Started 16 of 17 games played and scored one goal with A.C. Milan in his last season in Italy while appearing in seven UEFA Champions League games, including two in group phase and two in the quarterfinals against FC Barcelona… Signed with the Montreal Impact on July 5 after the club acquired his rights from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for allocation money… Started eight games in his first MLS season, recording 633 minutes… Selected on the MLSSoccer.com Team of the Week, for week 22… Also played in international matches against Olympique Lyonnais, Bologna F.C. and ACF Fiorentina.

2010/2011: Started 26 games and played 2,228 minutes with A.C. Milan… Also started seven UEFA Champions League games and two Coppa Italia games.

2009/2010: Recorded three goals and two assists in 23 games and 1,891 minutes of play, including 22 starts with A.C. Milan… Also started seven UEFA Champions League games.

2008/2009: Missed the whole season due to a back injury, playing in only one game with A.C. Milan, on the last day of the championship.

2007/2008: Scored one goal in 29 Serie A games with A.C. Milan… Won the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla and the FIFA Club World Cup, in Japan, scoring the game-winning goal at the 50th minute of play against Boca Juniors… Also played seven UEFA Champions League games.

2006/2007: Named to the UEFA Team of the Year for the fourth time… Played 14 games in Serie A before suffering a back injury… Returned to action in the second half of the season, helping the club win its second UEFA Champions League in five seasons.

2005/2006: Started 29 of his 30 Serie A games, scoring one goal against Chievo Verona on April 9… Also started 10 UEFA Champions League games, helping the team reach the semifinals against FC Barcelona.

2004/2005: Started 29 Serie A games, leading the team to second place in the league… Helped the club reach the UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool, starting 12 games during the tournament… Also won the Supercoppa Italiana against Lazio.

2003/2004: Named to the UEFA Team of the Year for the third time… Started 26 Serie A games, helping the team win its first Scudetto in five seasons, as well as starting six UEFA Champions League games, winning the UEFA Super Cup against FC Porto… Also faced Juventus at Giants Stadium in the Supercoppa Italiana.

2002/2003: Transferred to A.C. Milan in July for nearly €30.5 million… Named to the UEFA Team of the Year for the second time and Serie A Defender of the Year for the fourth time… Won the UEFA Champions League in his first season with Milan, starting 13 of 14 games, including the final against Juventus… Scored one goal in 29 Serie A games and won the third Coppa Italia of his career.

2001/2002: Named to the UEFA Team of the Year and chosen for the third consecutive year as Serie A Defender of the Year… Started 25 games with Lazio while playing four UEFA Champions League games… Played his last game with the Roman team on May 5, against Inter Milan.

2000/2001: Named Serie A Defender of the Year for the second year in a row… Won his second Italian Supercoppa, against Inter Milan, while leading the team to third place in Serie A… Played 25 Serie A games and eight UEFA Champions League games.

1999/2000: Named Serie A Defender of the Year for the first time of his career… In his third season as team captain, led Lazio to the prestigious double, winning the Scudetto, his first career Serie A championship, and the Coppa Italia… Also helped the club win the UEFA Super Cup against Manchester United.

1998/1999: Led Lazio to one of its most successful season in club history, winning the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup against Mallorca and the Supercoppa Italiana against Juventus, while finishing second in Serie A and reaching the Coppa Italia quarterfinal.

1997/1998: Named Serie A Young Footballer of the Year… Became one of the youngest team captains in Italian football, playing 30 games in Serie A… Led Lazio to its second Coppa Italia title in club history, the first of his career, scoring the game-winning goal at the 65th minute against A.C. Milan… Also played 10 UEFA Cup games, helping the team reach the final against Inter Milan.

1996/1997: Played 25 Serie A games, four Coppa Italia games and four UEFA cup games.

1995/1996: Established his starting role on the Lazio defence after playing 23 Serie A games, two Coppa Italia games and his first three UEFA Cup games.

1994/1995: Played 11 regular-season games and one Coppa Italia game in his second second in Roma… Helped Lazio to a second place in the Serie A standings.

1993/1994: Played his first two professional games in Serie A with Lazio.

YOUTH
Joined Lazio’s youth academy, in Roma, in 1985… Grew through the ranks, playing various positions, from midfielder to striker, before settling on defence.

INTERNATIONAL
Played 78 times with the Italian National Team as a central defender, winning the FIFA World Cup in 2006… Also took part in the 1998 and 2002 World Cup as well as the 2000 and 2006 Euro… Named to the 2006 Euro Team of the Tournament.

PERSONAL
Married to Gabriela and has a daughter, Sofia, and a son, Tommaso… Named to the FIFA 100, a list of the greatest living football players, chosen by Pelé… Named a Knight of the Italian Order of Merit in 2000 and an Officer of the Italian Order of Merit in 2006.