Following the departure of Raffaele Palladino, AC Monza have made a new appointment as coach. Of all people, an old companion has lured Italian world champion and Serie A icon Alessandro Nesta to the Biancorossa
A week ago, AC Monza announced the departure of head coach Raffaele Palladino as part of a coaching shake-up in Serie A. In Alessandro Nesta, the Biancorossi have now introduced a former world-class defender as Palladino’s successor, who as a coach has not yet been able to build on the successes of past playing days.
Second coaching stint in Serie A
After the end of his playing career in 2014, it was already clear to the 2006 world champion that he wanted to remain loyal to professional soccer. After making his debut with Miami FC and further stints with Italian third division club AC Perugia, Serie A club Frosinone Calcio and, most recently, second division club AC Reggiana, the 48-year-old is now returning to Serie A as a coach.
Nesta has signed a one-year contract in Monza, which is automatically extended for a further season if certain conditions are met. In general, however, the atmosphere during the contract negotiations must have been familiar, as it was arguably one of the most important people in the 78-time Italian international’s career who brought him to Lombardy’s third-largest city
Galliani and Nesta: “Some love affairs never quite end “
Adriano Galliani, the current managing director of AC Monza, had already achieved this feat once before in August 2002, when he convinced the Lazio Rome defender – who was still in charge at Milan at the time – to move to the Rossoneri.
“Of course, some love affairs never quite end,” the official recently commented on the speculation surrounding a reunion with Nesta.
Galliani and Nesta spent ten years together in Milan before the central defender decided to embark on a new adventure in Montreal, USA. The now 48-year-old had previously won the Champions League twice, Serie A, the UEFA Super Cup, the Italian Super Cup and the Italian Cup and Club World Cup once each with Milan.
Monza, who have been in Serie A since 2022, are unlikely to win too many titles. Nevertheless, 12th place in the table from the previous season gives hope of staying in the league again, which title collector Nesta would probably see as another success
