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A Tribute to Alessandro Nesta

February 17th, 2009 | By: Julian | 17 Comments »

Word is that Nesta’s ever-recurring back problem is forcing him to undergo surgery. Apparently, the pain is so bad that he’s had trouble sleeping. At 32 years of age, this could potentially force him to retire.

I’m kinda at a loss for words. Nesta has a tendency to get injured a lot, and he’s missed at least a couple international tourneys because of injury. But he was always my favorite Italian defender. Canna was our Berlin wall, and Maldini gets most of the praise on Milan, but Nesta has always had a tremendous calming presence about him. I feel like when he does play, the entire Milan team are more at ease that they won’t concede goals. In a sense, he’s a quiet leader.

Nesta’s won just about everything there is to win in footy. He starting playing at Lazio but was sold to Milan in 2002. He’s won the Champions League twice, the Club World Cup, the World Cup, and individually, Serie A Defender of the Year four times, UEFA Team of the Year four times, and FIFPro World XI twice. He’s got accomplishments most defenders can only dream about.

So please, leave your thoughts on the great Italian defender. He may return yet to play, but if he doesn’t, anyone who’s watched him knows how great he was.

Tags: AC Milan, defenders, Group E, Italy, Nesta, World Cup 2006

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Comments

By gianfranco | February 17th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

“In a sense, he’s a quiet leader.”

Couldnt have said it better, which is why he is all the more deserving of praise. He always did it with his mouth shut and with humility. To bad he couldnt playin the final alongside Canna, but then who knows what happened with our old friend zizou…

By Jeff | February 17th, 2009 at 8:07 pm

If Nesta doesn’t come back from this surgery we will lose a great defender. The question will be do we have anyone who will be able to come up and fill his shoes?

Posted from United States

By Kurdt | February 17th, 2009 at 8:26 pm

he’s the only ex-laziale player I ever like.

Posted from Taiwan

By Samuel | February 17th, 2009 at 9:47 pm

Nesta’s situation really saddens me, for me I considered it an honor seeing him and Maldini line up at the back every week for Milan. with the latter retiring at the end of the season i hope him a speedy recovery; and all the best because it would be a tragedy to lose out on two class defenders.

Posted from United States

By Vincent | February 17th, 2009 at 9:48 pm

One of my favs of all time! Great defender, maybe even the best over the last decade. Hope he recovers.

By Armando | February 17th, 2009 at 11:15 pm

One of the all-time best defenders ever. It would be a real shame for Milan to lose both Maldini AND Nesta at the end of this season. Two of the greatest italian defenders to ever live, and i’m a Juve fan saying that. Maldini is the best OVERALL defender to ever live in my opinion, and Nesta is close to the top too.

By Armando | February 17th, 2009 at 11:23 pm

Actually, now that i think about it, Franz Beckenbauer may have something to say about what i said about Paolo Maldini being the best defender ever, but i think it’s a close call. Franco Baresi is another one that’s great too. But i think it’s for sure that Paolo Maldini is the best italian defender ever, followed by Baresi, Nesta, Cannavaro, etc.

By mike | February 18th, 2009 at 12:20 am

maldini-nesta
must be the best defensive partnership ever in their prime time

Posted from Australia

By Lorenzo | February 18th, 2009 at 9:28 am

Nesta is not a normal centreback, hes an artist. Always chooses the most beautiful and hardest way to win the ball and get it back into play.

Posted from Sweden

By alessio | February 18th, 2009 at 9:29 am

Close, but I’m goin with Scirea-Gentile.

If only Nesta hadn’t gotten injured every goddamn Italy tournament..

Posted from Spain

By Nina | February 18th, 2009 at 10:54 am

Gentile was a bully and is nowhere near as gracious as Nesta or Maldini.Grateful for the wc though.

Posted from United States

By Bobo | February 18th, 2009 at 11:22 am

Lorenzo, well said. My favorite defenders are those who are able win the ball but also to put it back into play in a constructive manner. Many brutes can clatter into a striker and get a piece of the ball to stop a scoring opportunity, but how many have the technique to initiate a counter-attack? Maldini and Nesta are the best in this regard.

By Nigel | February 19th, 2009 at 7:21 pm

Bailout 2008, a poem by David Jeffrey

Like a bloodied warrior,
laying broken and torn.

Like a dying soldier, hopeless and forlorn.

But the blood, it be green,
the color of money.

And the soldier is an economy,
and it is anything but funny.

Broken are it’s people and shattered are their dreams.

Thanks to the ultra rich and their full proof schemes.

It is a tragedy with more pain to come.

Finance will be Hell, and their wills will be done.

http://www.voicesnet.org/allpoemsoneauthor.aspx?memberid=982900010

Posted from Canada

By Marese | February 23rd, 2009 at 9:02 am

Nesta is one of my favourite football players and his is the first Italy shirt I ever bought!! I hope he comes back and shines one more time!

By kathryn | February 25th, 2009 at 1:06 am

Sandro Nesta is one of the great defenders…i can’t imagine AC Milan or the italian team without him.I’m sure there are a lot of people praying for his recovery, because i know that there is a lot of years left to his playing and his talent will surely be missed if he retires.

Posted from United States

By Yi Da Li | March 3rd, 2009 at 10:05 pm

Nesta is Royalty.

Posted from United States

By ADI | March 6th, 2009 at 3:18 am

‘It’s marvellous to play a forward out of a match without using rough methods,’ says Nesta. ‘That gives me the ultimate kick.’
Nesta has proved it..
He is not only a great defender but he has that style that certain defenders have. A certain elegance.

Posted from Australia

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