Former Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon retires from soccer at age 45
PARMA, Italy — At age 45 and after a profession that included a World Cup title with Italy, an extended checklist of trophies with Juventus and a few years when he was thought of among the many finest goalkeepers in soccer, Gianluigi Buffon introduced his retirement on Wednesday.
Buffon had one season remaining on his contract with Parma in Serie B and due to this fact leaves the game with the identical workforce that he started his skilled profession with practically three a long time in the past.
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“That’s all folks! You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together,” Buffon wrote on Instagram subsequent to a video of his profession highlights.
The pinnacle of Buffon’s profession got here in the course of the 2006 World Cup, when he conceded solely two objectives in the course of the seven matches of the Azzurri’s run to the trophy. Neither of these two objectives had been scored by opponents throughout open play. One was an own-goal by teammate Cristian Zaccardo and the opposite was a penalty kick by Zinedine Zidane in the course of the last.
“I experienced Buffon for 25 years, first with Juve and then on the national team — his greatness as a player and as a man,” former coach Marcello Lippi mentioned, including that he thinks Buffon ought to take a job with the nationwide workforce.
At Juventus, Buffon was the spine behind 10 Serie A titles and stayed with the membership even after the 2006 “Calciopoli” scandal that noticed the workforce relegated to Serie B. He helped the Bianconeri win the second division a yr after the World Cup title.
“A legend hangs up his gloves today,” Juventus tweeted, “Your saves, your smiles, and your character will be forever remembered. Thank you, and congrats on an incredible career.”
Buffon and Juventus additionally had two Serie A titles taken away because of the “Calciopoli” match-fixing scandal.
The solely large title lacking from Buffon’s profession was the Champions League, having misplaced three finals with Juventus — to AC Milan in 2003, to Barcelona in 2015 and to Real Madrid in 2017.
Buffon left Juventus for Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 solely to return to the Turin membership a yr later as a backup to Wojciech Szczesny. He then made a sentimental return to Parma in 2021.
“Over the course of his illustrious career, which has no equals, Gigi showed an unrivaled ability, determination and passion on and off the field,” Parma president Kyle Krause mentioned. “Parma will always be your home.”
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