Alessandro Nesta has been sacked as head coach of Monza after winning just one of his 17 Serie A matches in charge.
Nesta, formerly captain of Lazio and a two-time Champions League winner with Milan, replaced Raffaele Palladino as Monza head coach this summer but has been relieved of his duties following Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat to Juventus.
Palladino was appointed at Fiorentina after leading Monza to a 12th place finish in their second season in Italy’s top flight, but the club are now 20th in Serie A after the opening 17 rounds of fixtures this season.
Monza are five points from safety in Serie A having picked up just 10 points under 48-year-old Nesta, who was in his first Serie A coaching role.
AC Monza comunica di aver sollevato Alessandro Nesta dall’incarico di allenatore della Prima Squadra.
Il Club ringrazia il tecnico per quanto fatto finora e gli augura il meglio per il futuro. pic.twitter.com/RjgdhmHwBC
— AC Monza (@ACMonza) December 23, 2024
Former central defender Nesta began his coaching career at U.S. club Miami FC in 2015 and subsequently was head coach of Serie B clubs Perugia, Frosinone and Reggiana — whom he guided to 11th in Serie B last term before his move to Monza.
Nesta is regarded as one of Italy’s greatest ever defenders; he was capped 78 times by his country and was part of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad.
He joined Lazio’s youth academy as a nine-year-old and went on to captain the club where he won six trophies, including the Cup Winners Cup in 1999 and the Italian double of the Serie A title and Coppa Italia crown the following season.
Nesta joined Milan in 2002 and won 10 trophies with the club, including two league titles and the Champions League in 2003 and 2007. He retired from playing in 2014 after short spells with MLS side Montreal Impact and Indian club Chennaiyin.
Monza return to action on December 28 with a trip to Parma.
(Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)
