Monza has made another managerial change: Alessandro Nesta has been relieved of his duties, with Salvatore Bocchetti set to take over as head coach. Despite a spirited performance against Juventus, the loss wasn’t enough to save the former World Cup champion, who has been undone by a dire league position. With Monza sitting at the bottom of the table, five points adrift of safety, and only one league win in the last two months, Adriano Galliani felt compelled to act. It was a tough decision, given Galliani’s close bond with Nesta dating back to their glory days at AC Milan, but it was a necessary move to turn the season around.
For Nesta, this marks another chapter in a coaching career that has seen mixed results, following spells at Perugia, Frosinone, and Reggiana. Unfortunately, mitigating factors couldn’t save him this time: a weakened squad compared to last season, key injuries (notably to captain Pessina, sidelined until February), and an inability to produce consistent results left Monza with no other choice.
Galliani has placed his faith in Bocchetti, a former defender who, despite his relative inexperience as a coach, has already shown an ability to navigate tough situations. Two years ago, Bocchetti played a key role in helping Verona escape relegation, even though he wasn’t officially the head coach at the time due to lacking the necessary certification. Now enrolled in the prestigious Supercorso at Coverciano, Bocchetti is fully qualified to lead Monza and aims to instill the same fiery determination he displayed during his playing days.
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This coaching change also adds another chapter to the so-called “curse” of Italy’s 2006 World Cup champions turned managers. Nesta is the latest in a long list of former heroes from Berlin to struggle in the dugout, joining names like Pirlo, De Rossi, Amelia, Camoranesi, and Gilardino. Among the 2006 alumni, only Fabio Grosso and Filippo Inzaghi are currently enjoying success, with Grosso dominating Serie B with Sassuolo and Inzaghi finding his footing with Pisa.
For Monza, the mission is clear: climb out of the relegation zone before the situation becomes irreversible. Bocchetti faces the challenging task of rejuvenating a team plagued by injuries and inconsistency, bringing back the confidence and points needed to fight for survival.
