Italian legend Alessandro Nesta has joined Chennaiyin FC for the remainder of the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) season. Nesta is considered to be one of the best centre backs of his generation.

He has been summoned by the Chennai outfit following a couple of injuries to their key players. Colombian forward John Stiven Menndoza for one has been ruled out of the tournament. Nesta will come out of retirement, having played his last competitive game for Major League Soccer outfit Montreal Impact in 2013.

In his prime Nesta formed one of the most formidable defensive partnerships for Italy with Fabio Cannavaro and Paolo Maldini. He was also the pivot in AC Milan’ feared backline that included the likes of Cafu, Maldini and Jaap Stam. The former AC Milan centre back is a World Cup winner in 2006 when Italy beat France on penalties.

Nesta began his career at SS Lazio in the Serie A and spent eight seasons at the Rome-based outfit. At Lazio, he won the Serie A Defender of the Year award three times in a row from 2000-2002 and then again in 2003 in AC Milan colours.

Nesta is one of Milan’s most iconic players having spent ten years with the Rossoneri. At Milan he won two Champions League titles alongside a couple of Serie A titles and a host of other major honours. He was also included in the list of the top 125 greatest living footballers as part of FIFA's 100th anniversary celebrations in 2004.