MONTREAL — When David Beckham went on loan to AC Milan from the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2009, Alessandro Nesta asked the Englishman about his experience in Major League Soccer.
Beckham warned Nesta that if he ever decided to play in North America’s top flight that he shouldn’t underestimate its calibre of play or else he would run the risk of embarrassing himself.
In his first press conference after signing with the Montreal Impact last summer, Nesta said he was determined to follow Beckham’s advice. Considered one of the best defenders of his generation, there was, after all, a reputation to protect.
Soccer Central podcast: Sportsnet is proud to announce the launch of the Soccer Central podcast, hosted by James Sharman, Brendan Dunlop and Thomas Dobby. To listen and subscribe to the podcast, CLICK HERE.
Nesta’s days with the Impact are now almost at an end. The 38-year-old Italian legend has decided that he will retire at the end of the year. Last Saturday, the Impact played their final home game of the regular season and the veteran defender limped off in the 89th minute with a calf injury.
Knowing that the game might very well have been his last, Nesta took the time to speak to reporters in the locker room following the match and was quick to emphasize his conviction that he had indeed taken his time in MLS seriously. In doing so, he also spoke for his friend and teammate Marco Di Vaio, who had just scored his 20th goal of the season, helping Montreal come from behind to beat the Philadelphia Union 2-1.
"Many think that at our age we come here just for the experience or to live the good life, but we’ve shown that we come here with an important mentality; not to live a nice experience, but to win," Nesta said.
"That’s how we were born. When we were small and we were taught how to play the game, we were taught that you always play to win."
The Impact’s decision to sign Nesta was one made more out of passion than careful deliberation. After the Impact lost 3-0 to rivals Toronto FC at Stade Saputo in June last year, Nesta happened to be at the stadium, visiting Di Vaio. Club president Joey Saputo, who was furious with the result, immediately walked over to Nesta after the game, invited the Roman to dinner that same night and the next day a deal was already agreed upon.
One of the main reasons why Montreal signed Nesta was that he would be able to shore up the Impact’s leaky defence. In this respect, Nesta’s signing can’t be considered much of a success. The Impact have conceded 48 goals this season, which is one of the worst defensive records in the league.
There have been games where goals were given up mainly because of the very attack minded approach adopted by coach Marco Schallibaum – the 5-3 win and 4-3 loss at home to Philadelphia and Colorado come to mind. But there have also been games where Nesta’s old legs simply caught up with him, like in that 4-0 loss away to the New York Red Bulls where he left Thierry Henry completely unmarked on the opening two goals.
Still, should the Impact make the playoffs, having to make do without Nesta would be a huge blow; they are certainly much better off with him than without him. Most of the Impact’s triumphs this season have come with Nesta on the field; he started in 12 of the team’s 14 wins, playing a big part in some of the best results, such as those victories over Seattle, Portland, Kansas City and Houston.
His influence on the Impact’s three home-grown defenders – Wandrille Lefèvre, Karl Ouimette and Maxim Tissot – cannot be underestimated either.
But Nesta’s biggest contribution to the Impact has simply been his presence over the last year and a half. He has helped invigorate the club, giving it a sense of being special, unique and having a greater, more international scope.
Before last Saturday’s game with Philadelphia, Nesta was honoured with a brief ceremony where a video that highlighted his achievements throughout his playing career was displayed up on the giant screen at Stade Saputo. When the ceremony was over and Nesta saluted the crowd, showers of rapturous applause hailed from the stands.
In that moment, it was as if the Impact and Stade Saputo were now themselves part of a great past and would never be the same again.
Nick Sabetti is a Montreal-based writer. Follow him on Twitter.
