Alessandro Nesta has been appointed as the new head coach of Serie B side Avellino, with club president Angelo D’Agostino confirming the appointment of the former AC Milan and Italy defender as the man tasked with taking the club to the next level.

The 50-year-old replaces Davide Ballardini, who guided Avellino to an eighth-place finish in Serie B after taking charge in February.

Nesta’s most recent role was at Monza, where he departed following a difficult campaign that ended in relegation from Serie A, a setback the club president acknowledged while backing the coach to bounce back.

D’Agostino backs Nesta to deliver despite mixed managerial record

Speaking to AvLive, via LaLazioSiamoNoi, D’Agostino was candid about the appointment.

“We chose Nesta after a series of evaluations that also included other coaches,” he said.

“We all believe this will be his year and Avellino’s year. He has an important past as a player and a slightly less prominent one as a coach, but I believe the best is still to come and I hope he shows his value at Avellino. We want to achieve further success and he will have to be the architect of that. I found him modest and calm, in the same vein as Ballardini. We will get to know him better with time.”

Nesta has previously coached Miami FC, Perugia, Frosinone and Reggiana in addition to Monza, and brings considerable experience to a club with promotion ambitions in the Italian second tier.