After calling time on his playing career in October, Alessandro Nesta has made a rapid return to the Montreal Impact.
The club announced on Thursday that the legendary Italian defender has rejoined the Impact as a consultant to the technical staff.
“Alessandro knows the players well, the coaching staff and the philosophy of our club,” said sporting director Nick De Santis in a statement. “He'll help the coaching staff throughout the entire season, principally as a video analyst, providing reports on our games and those of our opponents. We hope that this experience will be beneficial for him, knowing that he wants to become a head coach one day.”
An icon at Italian giants Lazio and AC Milan for the better part of two decades, Nesta capped his glittering career with a season and a half in Montreal, where he logged 2,572 minutes in 31 starts.
Widely regarded as one of the top center backs in world history, Nesta's resume also features 78 caps, two trips to the World Cup and two European Championship tournaments with the Italian national team, including a World Cup triumph in 2006.
The Impact open their 2014 season at FC Dallas on March 8 (8:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE).
