Football is finally coming to Miami, but two years after former England captain David Beckham was first identified as the star name to try to establish a Miami franchise, two Italian greats have jumped ahead in South Florida.

Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini, so long the backbone of the AC Milan defence, are building a team from scratch, from leasing a ground, finding sponsors and scouting players. Nesta is the coach, Maldini the co-owner of Miami FC. This time last year the club didn't even exist, but April marks the start of their first season of football, in the second tier, the North American Soccer League.

Why Miami?

Former Italy & AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta: "It's very tough to start in a new country, [at] a different level, I [will] try to give my experience to the guys, but it’s not easy. The two owners are Italians and for me it’s good. I live here in Miami for three years and this is my new home and to start here is good for me and for my family."

This is Nesta's first step in to management, he retired two years ago after a glittering career in which he won two Champions League titles with AC Milan and lifted the World Cup with Italy in 2006. After ten years in Milan he spent a year at Major League Soccer side Montreal Impact, before a spell in India with Chennaiyin FC, but he's now made Miami his home:

"After 10 minutes I accepted [the offer] to be the new coach here because for me Paolo is like a brother. The owners want to win. It doesn’t matter if it is the first year, but, for him, we have to win. We’re going to try to do it. "