Monza reappoint Nesta 7 weeks after dismissing him

Alessandro Nesta was recalled as Monza coach on Monday after the Serie A club sacked his replacement Salvatore Bocchetti with the team bottom in Italy's top flight.

Monza confirmed the decision with two short statements, with 48-year-old Nesta continuing his contract until the end of the season which reportedly has an option for another year if the team achieve safety.

Former defender Nesta, who won the 2006 World Cup with Italy as a player, had been on gardening leave since being replaced by Bocchetti as coach in late December.

But Bocchetti won one match of his seven in charge and lost the rest, most recently 5-1 at Lazio on Sunday, leaving Monza in last place and eight points away from Empoli who sit just outside the relegation zone.

Nesta will have a task on his hands to keep Monza up as the club owned by the Berlusconi family sold key players Milan Djuric, Pablo Mari and Daniel Maldini during the winter transfer window.

Monza host fellow relegation strugglers Lecce next weekend.