Gianluigi Buffon

Lippi makes second debut as Italy coach

FOXSports.com - Found Aug. 19, 2008
... to be the most inform Italian striker - as well as Antonio Di Natale and Vincenzo Iaquinta.Juventus' Gianluigi Buffon will be in goal, backed...
Lippi makes his second debut as coach of Italy - FOXSports.com
Italy aim to regain champions' swagger on Lippi's return - Yahoo! Singapore
Lippi: I was an imbecile for quitting Italy - TheStar.com.my
Lippi vows to attack - ESPN Star
Explore All

TheStar.com.my

Posted on August 19, 2008, 7:58 am

Man Utd, Juve finish friendly in scoreless draw

FOXSports.com - Found Aug. 6, 2008
Tevez got gingerly to his feet.Tevez and Darren Fletcher had United's best chances, without forcing Gianluigi Buffon into a decent save, and...

Posted on August 6, 2008, 7:33 am

United draw blank against Juve

FOXSports.com - Found Aug. 6, 2008
Tevez got gingerly to his feet.Tevez and Darren Fletcher had United's best chances, without forcing Gianluigi Buffon into a decent save, and...

Posted on August 6, 2008, 7:03 am

Mutu still reeling inside after Euro '08 pk miss

FOXSports.com - Found Jul. 22, 2008
... in the European Championship.The Fiorentina player's penalty kick was acrobatically saved by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, salvaging a 1-1 draw...

Posted on July 22, 2008, 12:05 pm

4 Worthy Survivors in Euro 2008 Battle

New York Times - Found Jun. 25, 2008
What fan, hyperventilating in den or pub, will forget the great televised close-up of Gianluigi Buffon of Italy tapping Iker Casillas of Spain...

Posted on June 25, 2008, 10:42 am

Spain/Italy running blog

Sideline Views - Found Jun. 22, 2008
7-David Villa, 9-Fernando Torres Italy: 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 2-Christian Panucci, 4-Giorgio Chiellini, 3-Fabio Grosso;

Posted on June 22, 2008, 12:48 pm

Euro 2008 - Day 16

BobbyMcMahon's Blog - Found Jun. 22, 2008
If Gianluigi Buffon is the best goalkeeper in the world then Iker Casillas can?t be far behind.

Posted on June 22, 2008, 10:26 am

EuroTrecker: Disappointing chess match goes to Spain

FOX Sports - Found Jun. 22, 2008
... like David Villa, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas, it seemed natural that they would test Gianluigi Buffon early, and often, especially...

Posted on June 22, 2008, 7:52 am

Spain knocks Italy out in negative Euro match

FOX Sports - Found Jun. 22, 2008
... like David Villa, Fernando Torres and Cesc Fabregas, it seemed natural that they would test Gianluigi Buffon early, and often, especially...

Posted on June 22, 2008, 4:48 am

Spain shades Italy on penalties, reaches Euro 2008 semifinals

USA Today - Found Jun. 22, 2008
Spain's best opportunity came in the 81st when goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon spilled a fierce long-range shot by Senna.

Posted on June 22, 2008, 3:47 am

Gianluigi Buffon Biography

Gianluigi Buffon
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

Gianluigi Buffon
Personal information
Full name Gianluigi Buffon
Date of birth January 28, 1978 (1978-01-28) (age 30)
Place of birth    Carrara, Italy
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club Juventus
Number 1
Youth clubs
1991–1995 Parma
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1995–2001
2001–
Parma
Juventus
168 (0)
224 (0)   
National team2
1997– Italy 086 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of May 18, 2008.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of June 22, 2008.
* Appearances (Goals)

Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon, Cavaliere OMRI[1][2] is an Italian FIFA World Cup-winning goalkeeper who currently plays for Italian Serie A club Juventus F.C. and the Italian national team. He and Peter Schmeichel share the number-one spot on the IFFHS' list of the world's best goalkeepers of the past twenty years, which was released on January 15, 2008.[3]

Contents

Early life and family

Gianluigi Buffon was born into a sporting family. His mother, Maria Stella, was a discus thrower, his father, Adriano, a weightlifter, his two sisters Veronica and Guendalina played volleyball and his uncle, Angelo Masocco, played basketball. He is also a nephew of goalkeeping legend Lorenzo Buffon (a cousin of Gianluigi's grandfather). Buffon is engaged to Czech model Alena Šeredova. Šeredova gave birth to son Louis Thomas on December 28, 2007. [4]


Club career

At the age of just 17, Buffon made his Serie A debut for Parma A.C. in a 0-0 home draw against A.C. Milan on November 19, 1995. In his fourth season with the club, he won the UEFA Cup. He transferred from Parma to Juventus F.C. in 2001, for a world-record goalkeeper's fee of €52 million. In 2003, he received the UEFA Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper awards, and was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004. During the annual Luigi Berlusconi Trophy match against Milan in August 2005, Buffon collided with Milan midfielder Kaká while chasing a loose ball, and suffered a dislocated shoulder that required surgery. His operation was successful and he returned to the pitch in November, but played only once as another injury returned him to the sidelines until January. He recovered in time to help lead Juventus to their second consecutive Scudetto and his fourth overall with the club.

On May 12, 2006, Buffon, along with former Juventus goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti and many other players, were implicated as participants in illegal betting on Serie A matches while with Parma. The following day, he voluntarily allowed himself to be questioned by Turin magistrates in an attempt to clear his name. While admitting that he did bet on sports (until regulations went into effect in late 2005, banning players from doing so), he vehemently denied placing wagers on Italian football matches. Fears arose that he had jeopardized his chance of playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but he was officially named Italy's starting goalkeeper on May 15. The players were cleared of all charges by the FIGC on June 27, 2007. [5]

Juventus were relegated to Serie B on July 14, 2006, and deducted thirty points as part of the verdict of the Italian match-fixing scandal; the deduction was later reduced to 17 and then to 9 under appeal, but their last two Scudetti were erased from the record books. Rumors about a transfer for Buffon subsequently spread, and many teams became interested in his services.[6] However, no deals ever materialized as Buffon elected to remain with Juventus; his agent said, "Serie B is a division he has never won and he wants to try to do this." A.C. Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani stated in April 2007 that Buffon's decision to stay proved a catalyst in re-signing incumbent Dida[7], though Buffon later denied having ever been contacted by Milan.[8]

After Juventus won the Cadetti and were promoted back into the top flight, Buffon signed a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2012.[1]

On September 21, 2007, Football Italia reported that Buffon nearly signed with A.S. Roma in 2001 following his departure from Parma, but team president Franco Sensi instead opted for Atalanta B.C. keeper Ivan Pelizzoli, who averaged less than fifteen appearances in five seasons with Roma. Buffon also claimed that he wouldn't have signed with Roma had he left Juventus in 2006. “That was never a possibility really...I don’t think that Roma had the finances to make an investment of such a nature.”[9]

International career

Buffon was awarded his first cap for Italy at the age of nineteen, as an injury replacement for Angelo Peruzzi during a 1998 FIFA World Cup play-off against Russia. He was called up for the 1998 World Cup finals, but did not play a single game as Pagliuca remained first choice. He was a member of the Italy squad at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. He was also the first choice goalkeeper for Italy at the Euro 2000, but broke his hand in a friendly match against Norway just eight days before the tournament started, and had his starting place taken by Francesco Toldo.

He kept five clean sheets in addition to a 453-minute scoreless streak during the 2006 World Cup finals; the only goals conceded were an own goal from teammate Cristian Zaccardo against the United States, and a Zinedine Zidane penalty in the final against France, which ended 1-1 in extra time and led to a penalty shootout in which neither Buffon nor Fabien Barthez could make a save. The lone miss was David Trezeguet's effort that clanged off the bottom of the crossbar and failed to cross the line, which enabled Italy to emerge victorious. Buffon received the Yashin Award for his accomplishments throughout the competition.

Buffon was named Italy captain for Euro 2008 after incumbent Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out of the competition due to injury. In the second game of the group stage against Romania on June 13, he saved a penalty from Adrian Mutu in the 81st minute as the match ended 1-1. Italy were eliminated in the quarterfinals nine days later after a 4-2 penalty shootout loss to Spain in which Buffon made one save.

Career statistics

Club Performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Italy League Coppa Italia Europe Total
1995-96 Parma Serie A 9 0 - - 9 0
1996-97 27 0 - 1 0 28 0
1997-98 32 0 6 0 8 0 46 0
1998-99 34 0 6 0 11 0 51 0
1999-00 32 0 0 0 9 0 41 0
2000-01 34 0 2 0 7 0 43 0
2001-02 Juventus Serie A 34 0 1 0 10 0 44 0
2002-03 32 0 0 0 15 0 47 0
2003-04 32 0 0 0 6 0 38 0
2004-05 37 0 0 0 11 0 48 0
2005-06 18 0 2 0 4 0 24 0
2006-07 Serie B 37 0 3 0 - 40 0
2007-08 Serie A 34 0 1 0 - 35 0
Total Italy 392 0 21 0 82 0 494 0
Career Total 392 0 21 0 82 0 494 0

Honours

Club

Parma F.C.

Juventus

International

Personal

References

  1. ^ FIFA.com
  2. ^ AscotSportal.com
  3. ^ Channel4.com
  4. ^ Goal.com - Juventus - Buffon Becomes A Father
  5. ^ "Kalac in the clear", The World Game. Retrieved on 2007-12-25. 
  6. ^ "Liverpool set for raid on Juve", The Sunday Times. Retrieved on 2006-07-16. 
  7. ^ "Galliani reveals transfer secrets", Football Italia. Retrieved on 2007-12-25. 
  8. ^ "Staying At Juve Was The Best Choice, Says Buffon", Goal.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-25. 
  9. ^ "Roma nearly signed Buffon", Football Italia. Retrieved on 2007-12-25. 

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Gianluigi Buffon Videos and Clips

Next

Gianluigi Buffon video Juventus, italy, serie a, buffon, best goalkeeper, saves clip
Title: Gianluigi Buffon Best goalkeeper in the world
Description: Juventus, italy, serie a, buffon, best goalkeeper, saves
Gianluigi Buffon video This is the best football goalkeeper and player in the world today and maybe ever. Only Schmeichel could compare with him but i still think Gigi is t... clip
Title: Gianluigi Buffon The best keeper in the world
Description: This is the best football goalkeeper and player in the world today and maybe ever. Only Schmeichel could compare with him but i still think Gigi is t...
Gianluigi Buffon video Gigi, the Number one!!!! clip
Title: Gianluigi Buffon!
Description: Gigi, the Number one!!!!
Gianluigi Buffon video Buffons greatests saves during the world cup in Germany. clip
Title: King of Keepers: Gianluigi Buffon
Description: Buffons greatests saves during the world cup in Germany.
Gianluigi Buffon video Movie about Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. clip
Title: Gianluigi Buffon compilation
Description: Movie about Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Gianluigi Buffon video This guy is a beast in goal. I bet you ever team wants this amazing keeper. clip
Title: Gianluigi Buffon: Best Keeper in the World
Description: This guy is a beast in goal. I bet you ever team wants this amazing keeper.
Gianluigi Buffon video Un Tributo ad un grandioso portiere, Gianluigi Buffon. A tribute to a huge goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon. clip
Title: Gianluigi Buffon Tribute, by manzo28
Description: Un Tributo ad un grandioso portiere, Gianluigi Buffon. A tribute to a huge goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon.
Gianluigi Buffon video Not my video, found it on the net but its really cool. By someone named Ray.. clip
Title: Gianluigi Buffon
Description: Not my video, found it on the net but its really cool. By someone named Ray..