Gianluigi Buffon announces retirement from football at the age of 45
Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon announces retirement from football after bringing a 28-year career to an end. The legendary goalkeeper leaves after reaching exceptional milestones for club and country.
He announced on Wednesday, opting to terminate his contract with Parma to hang up his gloves despite having another season on the deal.
Buffon lifted the 2006 World Cup with Italy, won 10 Serie A titles with Juventus and a Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain.
Buffon’s message to the football world
“That’s all folks!. “You gave me everything. I gave you everything. We did it together.” Buffon said it in a statement on Twitter.
Gianluigi Buffon announces retirement from football after 28-years
Buffon began his career in Parma’s youth system in 1991, aged 13. At the start he started playing in midfield before adapting to the role of goalkeeper because of his height and physical attributes.
He made his Serie A debut for Parma in a goalless draw against Milan in November 1995 at the age of 17. The Italian became the most expensive goalkeeper in the world when he joined Juventus from Parma for €52 million back in 2001, a record that stood for 16 years.
During his time at Juventus, Buffon made 685 appearances and won a staggering 22 major trophies. The most ever won by an individual. Buffon was also named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in 2003.
Buffon played a record 657 times in the Italian top flight and is the most-capped male goalkeeper of all time. He is also the most-capped goalkeeper of all time, having played 176 times for Italy.
He retired from international football in 2018 after Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
