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Gianluigi Buffon

Personal information
Full name	Gianluigi Buffon
Date of birth	28 January 1978 (1978-01-28) (age 32)
Place of birth	Carrara, Italy
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club	Juventus
Number	1
Youth career
1991–1995	Parma
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1995–2001	Parma	168	(0)
2001–	Juventus	268	(0)
National team‡
1995–1997	Italy U-21	12	(0)
1997–	Italy	100	(0)
Honours Competitor for  Italy Football (soccer) FIFA World Cup Gold Germany 2006
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 February 2010. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14 November 2009

Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon (born 28 January 1978 in Carrara), is an Italian FIFA World Cup and UEFA Cup-winning goalkeeper who plays for Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team. He is considered by some fans and experts to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.¹². He was named the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record eight times.

He was named by Pelé as one of the 125 greatest living footballers in the world.

Club career

Early career

At the young age of just 17, Buffon made his Serie A debut for Parma in a 0-0 home draw against Milan on 19 November 1995. In his fourth season with the club, he won the UEFA Cup. He transferred from Parma to Juventus in 2001, for a world-record goalkeeper's fee of €51.5 million. Buffon nearly signed with Roma in 2001 following his departure from Parma, but team president Franco Sensi instead opted for Atalanta keeper Ivan Pelizzoli, who averaged less than 15 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."³

Juventus

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 12 May 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 15 May. The players were cleared of all charges by the FIGC on 27 June 2007.⁴

Following Juventus' punishment in the Calciopoli scandal, rumors spread that Juventus were shopping Buffon on the transfer market as a cost-cutting measure, and many teams became interested in his services.⁵ 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." AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani stated in April 2007 that Buffon's decision to stay proved a catalyst in re-signing incumbent Dida,⁶ though Buffon later denied having ever been contacted by Milan.

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 2012.⁷

In 2008–09, Buffon was again sidelined by several injuries, having problems with his back but principally a bad groin strain and a pulled muscle.⁸ From September-January, Alexander Manninger, Juventus' reserve goalie, held his position between the sticks, and gained a lot of praise for his deputizing.⁹ Because of this and Juve's poor form towards the end of the season, as Buffon was seen despondent as the team drew Lecce and Atalanta, there were further rumors that Buffon was upset and wanted to leave.¹⁰ He admitted he was upset but had no intentions to leave. After a discussion with management, he said he was reassured about the future of Juventus and signed a year extension to 2013.

Buffon started the 2009–10 season strongly, receiving praise for performances against sides such as Roma, Lazio, Livorno, Bulgaria, and Georgia. In the view of several commentators, his performances have cemented his reputation as one of the world's best players.¹¹¹²

International career

Buffon was awarded his first cap for Italy at the age of nineteen, as an injury replacement for Gianluca Pagliuca during a qualifer for 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.

Buffon was in stunning form as 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 save a penalty. 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's Fabio Grosso to seal the victory for the Italians. 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 tournament 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 to keep Italy's hopes alive. Buffon kept a clean sheet against France in the final group game. Italy was eliminated in the quarterfinals nine days later after a 0-0 penalty shootout loss to Spain in which Buffon saved 1 penalty.

Career statistics

Honours

Parma

• UEFA Cup: 1999
• Coppa Italia 1999
• Supercoppa Italiana: 1999

Juventus

• Serie A: 2001–02, 2002–03
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2002, 2003
• Serie B: 2006–07
• UEFA Champions League: 2003 Runner-up

International

• UEFA Under-21 European Championship: 1996
• FIFA World Cup: 2006

Individual

• Bravo Award: 1999
• UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player: 2003
• UEFA Club Football Awards Best Goalkeeper: 2003
• FIFA 100
• Yashin Award: 2006
• 2006 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
• European Footballer of the Year (Silver Ball): 2006
• Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008
• Onze d'Or (Best Goalkeeper): 2003, 2006
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2003, 2004, 2006
• FIFPro World XI: 2006, 2007
• IFFHS Best Goalkeeper: 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007
• UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Gianluigi Buffon

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Gianluigi Buffon

• Official site (Italian) (English)
• Gianluigi Buffon FIFA competition record
• "Gianluigi Buffon". at Goal.com. http://www.goal.com/en/people/italy/90/gianluigi-buffon. 
• Career timeline, photo gallery, and detailed statistics at footballdatabase.com

Awards v • d • e FIFA 100 UEFA Baggio · Ballack · Banks · Baresi · Beckenbauer · Beckham · Bergkamp · Bergomi · Best · Boniek · Boniperti · Breitner · Buffon · Butragueño · Cantona · Ceulemans · Charlton · Cruyff · Dalglish · Dasayev · Davids · Del Piero · Desailly · Deschamps · Emre · Eusébio · Facchetti · Figo · Fontaine · Gullit · Hagi · Henry · Kahn · Keane · Keegan · Klinsmann · Kluivert · Kopa · B. Laudrup · M. Laudrup · Lineker · Luis Enrique · Maier · Maldini · Masopust · Matthäus · Müller · Nedvěd · Neeskens · Nesta · Owen · Papin · Pfaff · Pirès · Platini · Puskás · Raúl · Rensenbrink · Rijkaard · Rivera · Rossi · Rui Costa · Rummenigge · Rüştü · Schmeichel · Seedorf · Seeler · Shearer · Shevchenko · Stoichkov · Šuker · Thuram · Totti · Trésor · Trezeguet · van Basten · R. van de Kerkhof  · W. van de Kerkhof · Van der Elst · van Nistelrooy · Vieira · Vieri · Zidane · Zoff CONMEBOL Carlos Alberto · Batistuta · Cafu · Crespo · Cubillas · di Stéfano · Falcão · Figueroa · Francescoli · Júnior · Kempes · Maradona · Passarella · Pelé · Rivaldo · Rivelino · Roberto Carlos · Romário · Romerito · Ronaldinho · Ronaldo · Djalma Santos · Nílton Santos · Saviola · Sívori · Sócrates · Valderrama · Verón · Zamorano · Zanetti · Zico CAF Diouf · Milla · Okocha · Abédi Pelé · Weah CONCACAF Akers · Hamm · Sánchez AFC Hong · Nakata v • d • e IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper 1987: Pfaff | 1988: Dasaev | 1989: Zenga | 1990: Zenga | 1991: Zenga | 1992: Schmeichel | 1993: Schmeichel | 1994: Preud'homme | 1995: Chilavert | 1996: Köpke | 1997: Chilavert | 1998: Chilavert | 1999: Kahn | 2000: Barthez | 2001: Kahn | 2002: Kahn | 2003: Buffon | 2004: Buffon | 2005: Čech | 2006: Buffon | 2007: Buffon | 2008: Casillas | 2009: Casillas v • d • e Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year 1997: Peruzzi | 1998: Peruzzi | 1999: Buffon | 2000: Toldo | 2001: Buffon | 2002: Buffon | 2003: Buffon | 2004: Buffon | 2005: Buffon | 2006: Buffon | 2007: Peruzzi | 2008: Buffon | 2009: Júlio César v • d • e UEFA Club Footballer of the Year 1998: Ronaldo | 1999: Beckham | 2000: Redondo | 2001: Effenberg | 2002: Zidane | 2003: Buffon | 2004: Deco | 2005: Gerrard | 2006: Ronaldinho | 2007: Kaká | 2008: C. Ronaldo | 2009: Messi v • d • e Bravo Award 1978: Case | 1979: Birtles | 1980: Müller | 1981: Wark | 1982: Shaw | 1983: Bonini | 1984: Righetti | 1985: Butragueño | 1986: Butragueño | 1987: van Basten | 1988: Ohana | 1989: Maldini | 1990: Baggio | 1991: Prosinečki | 1992: Guardiola | 1993: Giggs | 1994: Panucci | 1995: Kluivert | 1996: Del Piero | 1997: Ronaldo | 1998: Ronaldo | 1999: Buffon | 2000: Casillas | 2001: Hargreaves | 2002: Metzelder | 2003: Rooney | 2004: C.Ronaldo | 2005: Robben | 2006: Fàbregas | 2007: Messi | 2008: Benzema | 2009: Agüero Awards and achievements Preceded by Oliver Kahn UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year 2003 Succeeded by Vítor Baía Preceded by Oliver Kahn Yashin Award 2006 Succeeded by Incumbent

Italy squad v • d • e Italy squad – 1996 Summer Olympics 1 Pagliuca • 2 Panucci • 3 Nesta • 4 Cannavaro • 5 Galante • 6 Fresi • 7 Ametrano • 8 Crippa • 9 Branca • 10 Brambilla • 11 Delvecchio • 12 Buffon • 13 Pistone • 14 Tommasi • 15 Pecchia • 16 Morfeo • 17 Lucarelli • 18 Bernardini • 19 Sartor • Coach: Maldini v • d • e Italy squad – 1998 FIFA World Cup 1 Toldo • 2 Bergomi • 3 P. Maldini • 4 Cannavaro • 5 Costacurta • 6 Nesta • 7 Pessotto • 8 Torricelli • 9 Albertini • 10 Del Piero • 11 D. Baggio • 12 Pagliuca • 13 Cois • 14 Di Biagio • 15 Di Livio • 16 Di Matteo • 17 Moriero • 18 R. Baggio • 19 Inzaghi • 20 Chiesa • 21 Vieri • 22 Buffon • Coach: C. Maldini v • d • e Italy squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Buffon • 2 Panucci • 3 Maldini • 4 Coco • 5 Cannavaro • 6 Zanetti • 7 Del Piero • 8 Gattuso • 9 Inzaghi • 10 Totti • 11 Doni • 12 Abbiati • 13 Nesta • 14 Di Biagio • 15 Iuliano • 16 Di Livio • 17 Tommasi • 18 Delvecchio • 19 Zambrotta • 20 Montella • 21 Vieri • 22 Toldo • 23 Materazzi • Coach: Trapattoni v • d • e Italy squad – UEFA Euro 2004 1 Buffon • 2 Panucci • 3 Oddo • 4 Zanetti • 5 Cannavaro • 6 Ferrari • 7 Del Piero • 8 Gattuso • 9 Vieri • 10 Totti • 11 Corradi • 12 Toldo • 13 Nesta • 14 Fiore • 15 Favalli • 16 Camoranesi • 17 Di Vaio • 18 Cassano • 19 Zambrotta • 20 Perrotta • 21 Pirlo • 22 Peruzzi • 23 Materazzi • Coach: Trapattoni v • d • e Italy squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup Winners (4th Title) 1 Buffon • 2 Zaccardo • 3 Grosso • 4 De Rossi • 5 Cannavaro • 6 Barzagli • 7 Del Piero • 8 Gattuso • 9 Toni • 10 Totti • 11 Gilardino • 12 Peruzzi • 13 Nesta • 14 Amelia • 15 Iaquinta • 16 Camoranesi • 17 Barone • 18 Inzaghi • 19 Zambrotta • 20 Perrotta • 21 Pirlo • 22 Oddo • 23 Materazzi • Coach: Lippi v • d • e Italy squad – UEFA Euro 2008 1 Buffon • 2 Panucci • 3 Grosso • 4 Chiellini • 5 Gamberini • 6 Barzagli • 7 Del Piero • 8 Gattuso • 9 Toni • 10 De Rossi • 11 Di Natale • 12 Borriello • 13 Ambrosini • 14 Amelia • 15 Quagliarella • 16 Camoranesi • 17 De Sanctis • 18 Cassano • 19 Zambrotta • 20 Perrotta • 21 Pirlo • 22 Aquilani • 23 Materazzi • Coach: Donadoni v • d • e Italy squad – 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup 1 Buffon • 2 Santon • 3 Grosso • 4 Chiellini • 5 Cannavaro • 6 Legrottaglie • 7 Pepe • 8 Gattuso • 9 Toni • 10 De Rossi • 11 Gilardino • 12 De Sanctis • 13 Gamberini • 14 Amelia • 15 Iaquinta • 16 Camoranesi • 17 Rossi • 18 Palombo • 19 Zambrotta • 20 Montolivo • 21 Pirlo • 22 Dossena • 23 Quagliarella • Coach: Lippi