Gianluigi Buffon

Gianluigi Buffon, Italian orders of merit (born 28 January 1978 in Carrara), is an Italians FIFA World Cup-winning goalkeeper who plays for Serie A club Juventus F.C. and the Italy national football team. Currently, Gianluigi Buffon is widely regarded as one of the the greatest goalkeepers in the modern game.

Early life and family

Gianluigi Buffon was born into a sporting family. Gianluigi Buffon mother, Maria Stella, was a discus thrower, Gianluigi Buffon father, Adriano, a Weightlifting, Gianluigi Buffon two sisters Veronica and Guendalina played volleyball and Gianluigi Buffon uncle, Angelo Masocco, played basketball. Gianluigi Buffon is also a nephew of goalkeeping legend Lorenzo Buffon (a cousin of Gianluigi's grandfather). Buffon lives with a Czech model Alena Šeredová, who gave birth to son Louis Thomas on December 28 2007 and they are currently expecting their second child. Buffon and Šeredová are not married yet, but according to the Italian and Czech press, the couple stated that they will get married after the birth of their second child.

Club career

Early career

At the age of just 17, Buffon made Gianluigi Buffon Serie A debut for Parma A.C in a 0-0 home draw against A.C. Milan on 19 November 1995. In Gianluigi Buffon fourth season with the club, Gianluigi Buffon won the UEFA Cup. Gianluigi Buffon transferred from Parma to Juventus in 2001, for a world-record goalkeeper's fee of €52 million. Buffon nearly signed with A.S. Roma in 2001 following Gianluigi Buffon 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 Gianluigi Buffon wouldn't have signed with Roma had Gianluigi Buffon 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."

Juventus

In 2003, Gianluigi Buffon received the UEFA Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper awards, and was named by Pelé as one of the FIFA 100 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. Gianluigi Buffon operation was successful and Gianluigi Buffon returned to the pitch in November, but played only once as another injury returned Gianluigi Buffon to the sidelines until January. Gianluigi Buffon recovered in time to help lead Juventus to their second consecutive Scudetto and Gianluigi Buffon 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, Gianluigi Buffon voluntarily allowed himself to be questioned by Turin magistrates in an attempt to clear Gianluigi Buffon name. While admitting that Gianluigi Buffon did bet on sports (until regulations went into effect in late 2005, banning players from doing so), Gianluigi Buffon vehemently denied placing wagers on Italian football matches. Fears arose that Gianluigi Buffon had jeopardized Gianluigi Buffon chance of playing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but Gianluigi Buffon was officially named Italy's starting goalkeeper on 15 May. The players were cleared of all charges by the FIGC on 27 June 2007.

Following Juventus' punishment in the 2006 Italian football scandal, rumors spread that Juventus were shopping Buffon on the transfer market as a cost-cutting measure, and many teams became interested in Gianluigi Buffon services. However, no deals ever materialized as Buffon elected to remain with Juventus; Gianluigi Buffon agent said, "Serie B is a division Gianluigi Buffon has never won and Gianluigi Buffon 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 (goalkeeper), though Buffon later denied having ever been contacted by Milan.

After Juventus won the Serie B and were promoted back into the top flight, Buffon signed a contract extension that will keep Gianluigi Buffon at the club until 2012.

International career

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

Buffon was in stunning form as Gianluigi Buffon 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 USA national soccer team, and a Zinedine Zidane penalty in the final against France national football team, 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 FIFA World Cup awards Yashin Award for Gianluigi Buffon accomplishments throughout the competition.

Buffon was named Italy captain for UEFA Euro 2008 after incumbent Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out of the tournament due to injury. In the second game of the UEFA Euro 2008 Group C against Romania national football team on June 13, Gianluigi Buffon 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 were eliminated in the quarterfinals nine days later after a 0-0 penalty shootout loss to Spanish national football team in which Buffon saved 1 penalty.