At age 45 and after a profession that included a World Cup title with Italy, an extended listing of trophies with Juventus and a few years when he was thought-about among the many greatest goalkeepers in soccer, Gianluigi Buffon has introduced his retirement.
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.
“That’s all people! You gave me every little thing. I gave you every little thing. We did it collectively,” Buffon wrote on Instagram on Wednesday subsequent to a video of his profession highlights.
The top of Buffon’s profession got here in the course of the 2006 World Cup, when he conceded solely two targets in the course of the seven matches of the Azzurri’s run to the trophy. Neither of these two targets 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 remaining.
“I skilled Buffon for 25 years, first with Juve after which on the nationwide workforce — his greatness as a participant and as a person,” former coach Marcello Lippi stated, including that he thought 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 12 months after the World Cup title.
“A legend hangs up his gloves at this time,” Juventus tweeted. “Your saves, your smiles, and your character might be perpetually remembered. Thanks, and congrats on an unimaginable profession.”
Buffon and Juventus additionally had two Serie A titles taken away because of the “Calciopoli” match-fixing scandal.
The one 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 Actual Madrid in 2017.
Buffon left Juventus for Paris Saint-Germain in 2018 solely to return to the Turin membership a 12 months later as a backup to Wojciech Szczesny. He then made a sentimental return to Parma in 2021.
“Over the course of his illustrious profession, which has no equals, Gigi confirmed an unrivalled capability, willpower and fervour on and off the sphere,” Parma President Kyle Krause stated. “Parma will at all times be your house.”