19 March 1976 - A Born Defender

On 19 March 1976, four-time Serie A Defender of the Year Alessandro Nesta was born in Rome.

He started his career at Lazio, joining their youth academy in 1985. They tried him at striker and midfielder before establishing him at center back. In 1993, he signed a professional contract and became an established starter during the 1995-96 season, making a total of 28 appearances.

By 1997, he had become Lazio's captain and led the team to the 1998 Coppa Italia, followed by the 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In 2000, he won a second Coppa Italia that was paired with the club's first league title since 1974. That season also saw him win the first of four consecutive Serie A Defender of the Year awards.

In the summer of 2002, he moved to AC Milan in a deal worth €31M. In ten seasons there, he won another pair of Scudettos (2004, 2011), a Coppa Italia (2003), two Champions League titles (2003, 2007), and the FIFA Club World Cup (2007).

Along the way, he made 78 appearances for Italy between 1996 and 2006, though he missed the 2006 World Cup Final due to injury.

Nesta left Milan in 2012 and played two seasons for the Montreal Impact, then joined Chennaiyin FC for one season before retiring in 2014. He then moved into management, taking charge of Miami FC for the 2016 and 2017 seasons.

7 April 2012 - A Canadian Derby Hits New Heights

On 7 April 2012, the Montreal Impact got their first MLS win, beating rivals Toronto 2-1.

Formed as an American Professional Soccer League team in 1992, Montreal had to wait fourteen years for their biggest rivals to arrive, as Toronto was established in 2006 as an expansion team for Major League Soccer. Although the two teams played in different leagues, they met every year in the Canadian Championship (which started as a round-robin tournament in 2008 with those two team and the Vancouver Whitecaps, then added Edmonton in 2011).

Montreal won the first Canadian Championship, but Toronto has won every one since, never losing to Montreal. So when Montreal joined MLS in 2012, they hoped the change in their league status would lead to a change in fortune.

Hosting Toronto at the Olympic Stadium, Montreal wasted little time in staking their claim, taking an 18th-minute lead with a goal from midfielder Siniša Ubiparipović. Still down 1-0 in the second half, Toronto tried to rally, but lost defender Logan Emory to a red card in the 65th minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Montreal's Andrew Wenger extended the lead in the 81st minute to provide some insurance that the hosts later needed when Toronto's Danny Koevermans scored a late consolation goal.

19 March 1976 - A Born Defender

On 19 March 1976, four-time Serie A Defender of the Year Alessandro Nesta was born in Rome.

He started his career at Lazio, joining their youth academy in 1985. They tried him at striker and midfielder before establishing him at center back. In 1993, he signed a professional contract and became an established starter during the 1995-96 season, making a total of 28 appearances.

By 1997, he had become Lazio's captain and led the team to the 1998 Coppa Italia, followed by the 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. In 2000, he won a second Coppa Italia that was paired with the club's first league title since 1974. That season also saw him win the first of four consecutive Serie A Defender of the Year awards.

In the summer of 2002, he moved to AC Milan in a deal worth €31M. In ten seasons there, he won another pair of Scudettos (2004, 2011), a Coppa Italia (2003), two Champions League titles (2003, 2007), and the FIFA Club World Cup (2007).

Along the way, he made 78 appearances for Italy between 1996 and 2006, though he missed the 2006 World Cup Final due to injury.

Nesta currently plays in MLS for the Montreal Impact, having joined them on a free transfer in the summer of 2012.