Italian football has long been lauded for producing some of the world’s greatest defenders. Built on discipline, organisation, and tactical mastery, those and defensive principles have helped Azzuri lift four World Cup trophies.
Few players embody this tradition better than Alessandro Nesta. The former AC Milan and Lazio centre-back defined Italian defending in the 2000s, combining elegance with intelligence and steel.
Nesta will bring those lessons to a new arena at SBC Summit Tbilisi, where he’ll deliver a keynote speech to gaming operators on how defensive discipline, leadership and teamwork can translate into business performance.
Ahead of the event, Insider Sport spoke to Nesta about his 20-year career, the hardest trophy he ever won, and the secrets behind his legendary partnership with Paolo Maldini.
Can you explain the day-to-day differences of a football player compared to as a coach and what new challenges this brings?
As a player, your focus is very narrow: training well, keeping your body ready, recovering, and delivering your best performance on match day. Everything is about you, your position, your contribution to the team.
As a coach, it’s completely different. You carry the responsibility for 25 players, the staff, the system, the results. The challenge is not only tactical but also psychological: understanding people, keeping motivation high, managing egos, and preparing for the long term, not just the next match.
Have there been any business ventures you have embarked on since retiring as a player in 2014 and what qualities does a brand need to have in order for you to partner with them?
Yes, I’ve been involved in football academies, coaching projects abroad, and some collaborations in the sports business world.
For me, authenticity is very important. A brand must represent values that I can believe in respect, innovation, and responsibility. If a brand is only chasing money without caring about people or the community, I don’t see myself partnering with them.
You’ve won several major trophies during your time at AC Milan and Lazio, but which tested your resilience the most and how can gambling operators replicate this same approach?
Winning the Champions League in 2003 after coming back from injuries was probably the hardest test. You learn that resilience means patience, discipline, and not losing belief even when things are difficult.
For gambling operators, it’s the same: the industry is competitive, heavily regulated, and sometimes under pressure from the public. Resilience is about adapting, staying consistent with values, and always working towards long-term trust.
Widely regarded as one of the best defenders of your generation, what are some of the key defensive principles gambling operators can also have in place when it comes to threats relating to their industry?
Defending is about anticipation, balance, and teamwork. You don’t wait for danger, you read the game early and act before the opponent does. For operators, this means having strong systems to anticipate risks, not only reacting after a problem occurs.
Second, balance: never overcommit in one direction, stay disciplined. And finally, teamwork: no defender can succeed alone. You need your goalkeeper, your teammates in business, it’s about working with regulators, partners, and technology providers.
Through your career you have formed partnerships with other greats such as Paolo Maldini. Could you provide some insight into what makes a great centre back partnership and how this can be applied to working with colleagues in other industries?
With Paolo, it was trust. We knew each other so well that sometimes no words were needed. He knew when I stepped forward, I knew when he covered me. That’s the essence of partnership: trust, communication, and complementary skills.
In any industry, when you respect your colleague and understand their strengths, the partnership becomes much more powerful.
Captaining Lazio to the 2000 Scudetto, what does leadership mean to you and to lead by example?
Leadership is not shouting or giving orders. For me, it’s showing every day in training and in games that you are committed, that you sacrifice for the team.
When teammates see you giving 100%, they follow. Leading by example means being consistent, even in small details, and always putting the group before yourself.
What are some of the key themes you hope to address during your keynote speech at SBC Summit Tbilisi?
I want to share my experience of resilience, teamwork, and leadership not just in football, but in life.
I will speak about the importance of values: discipline, respect, and preparation. I will also discuss how football has shown me that challenges can be opportunities, and how industries like gaming and betting can support sports responsibly.
My hope is to inspire people to combine ambition with responsibility, and to remind everyone that success comes only with balance and hard work.
Co-hosted with SMH Global, SBC Summit Tbilisi (October 15-16) will unite 2,000 operators, affiliates, suppliers, and regulators for two days of strategic insights, networking, and regional expertise, making it the go-to event for businesses targeting Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Full Event Pass ($200): Exhibition floor, all conference sessions, daily catering, and both evening networking parties.
- Group Tickets: Buy three or more and save $50 per pass.
- Complimentary Operator & Affiliate Passes.
