On January 28th, one of the strongest Italian athletes ever celebrates his birthday. We are talking about Gigi Buffon, goalkeeper of the Juventus considered by all to be one of the best footballers ever. A life spent in goal, winning trophies and records of all kinds. Happy birthday Buffon!
Gigi Buffon: story of a predestined
Forty years and not hear them! The strongest Italian goalkeeper in history turns off the beauty of today forty candles. Of these four decades, most have been spent defending the goal of a soccer field. A career that began at an early age, thanks above all to the drive of parents, both established athletes. Mum was indeed Italian champion in shot put and discus, while the father - in the same specialty - was part of the Italian national athletics team. Even the sisters, both older than Gigi, can boast several sporting successes in volleyball. In short, it is difficult to grow up away from the world of sport with a family like this.
Born in Carrara in 1978, he began his footballing adventure as a midfielder with the shirt of Canaletto (amateur society of the Spezia). He then returns to Carrara to play first with the Perticated and then with the Bonascola. But it was in 1991, at the age of 13, that Buffon's career took off. It is in fact bought by Parma for fifteen million lire, a record figure for a thirteen year old. After one year, due to the injury of both goalkeepers, is deployed between the posts by his coach. Role that will then become fixed after just two weeks of tests and training. Within a few years he completed his career with the youth teams to find himself in the first team. And the 19 November of the 1995 debuts against Capello's AC Milan parrying practically everything!
The consecration of a myth
That match threw Buffon into the headlines. Right from the start it is associated with big names such as Zoff, Pagliuca o Zeng. And despite the pressures, he won a starting place in Parma by winning one Coppa Italia, a Super Cup and a Uefa Cup. In the summer of 2001 the definitive leap in quality took place with the transition to Juventus, who wins it for a good 75 billion lire becoming the most expensive purchase in Juventus history. Expense amply repaid with dives and saves, which lead Buffon to consecrate himself as the strongest goalkeeper in the world. With the bianconeri he won practically everything: championships, national cups and even a Serie B championship.
In fact, he was one of the few to remain at Juventus after the 2006 relegation. And not as a simple goalkeeper, but as a World Champion. Because Gigi's successes also concern the National with which it can boast the beauty of 175 attendance and a World Cup won as a protagonist in Germany. Unfortunately, however, he was unable to end his career in blue as he would have liked. His last match dates back to 13 November, on the occasion of the play-off against Sweden. Play-off lost by Italy, with consequent elimination from the next world championships, which should have been the last international competition played by Gigi.
Gift ideas for birthday
At the end of this season, Gigi Buffon will hang up his gloves. His successes have been many, but there is a trophy that, despite everything, the goalkeeper was unable to conquer: the Champions League. The cup with the big ears was in fact only touched on three occasions. The first in 2003 against Milan, lost on penalties (Buffon managed to save two, but it was not enough). In 2015 the other final against Barcelona, lost by 3 to 1. And finally that of last year, which saw the Real Madrid to win by 4 to 1. In more than one interview, the goalkeeper declared that he wanted to end his career by raising the coveted cup to the sky. And this would be a birthday present with all the trimmings, which would crown an already extraordinary career. Happy birthday Gigi!
