Buffon is the goalkeeper that the whole world knows. His name is heard even by those people who are not enlightened in the subject of football. However, everyone knows about the legendary Gigi. After all, he is the best goalkeeper of the 2006 World Cup, captain of the Italian national team and Juventus, for which he has been playing for 15 years in a row. And this is not all interesting facts about this football player.
early years
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was born into a sports family. Father was a shot putter. Mom was the champion of Italy, not only in this sport - she won first place in the national championship in discus throwing. My uncle played in the A1 basketball division. And both sisters of our hero were engaged in water polo at a professional level. And Gigi is a distant relative of a man who once was also a goalkeeper of the Italian national team, and his name was Lorenzo Buffon.
Interestingly, as a child, Gigi was rooting for FC Genoa. And he studied football skills in a simple amateur team from a town called La Spezia. After graduation, he returned to his hometown of Carrara and began playing for FC Perticata. It was also an amateur team. Interestingly, Buffon - the goalkeeper, known throughout the world, in his youth acted as a midfielder.
Life before Juventus
Buffon is a goalkeeper whose biography is inextricably linked to the Juventus Club of Turin. But he came to him 15 years ago - in 2001. Until that moment, he played for “Parma” for another ten years, five of which - for the adult squad. Interestingly, in addition to this team, such famous clubs as Milan and Bologna fought for the young Gigi. However, it was Parma who managed to buy Buffon. By the way, they paid for it 15 million lire.
When Gianluigi was 14 years old, he took his goalkeeper position. And then all the other youth goalkeepers sat on the bench for a long time. The head coach, after observing the new player’s game for two weeks, approved him as the main goalkeeper.
And in 1995, Gigi made his debut in the match for the main team. He had a “dry” game, and “Parma” did not lose to “Milan”. But in the next match he missed one goal - and to the one who in the future became his mentor. That player was Ciro Ferrara. But in general, the results were very impressive, and already in the next season, Buffon - the goalkeeper with great prospects, played 27 matches. And in 1997, his debuts took place in all European competitions. Then, by the way, for the first time he played the match with his national team.
Relocation to Turin
In 2001, Gianluigi was bought back by Juventus for an amount of 75 billion lire. By the way - the largest amount in the history of football, which only paid for the goalkeeper. The first season was not bad. The second is even better. In 2002/03 he was even recognized as the best player in the Champions League.
Buffon played stably, but in 2005 he was seriously injured - he dislocated his shoulder. For three months he had to recover. During this time, he was replaced by Christian Abbyati. And even after his return, Capello, who at that time was the head coach of the “Old Senora,” was in no hurry to let Gigi out onto the field. Only at the end of January he began to appear in matches. And there have been successes. But despite the fact that Buffon - the goalkeeper, distinguished by a good, stable game, he had a protracted period during which he was unable to repel a single penalty. It lasted from the end of October 2003 to December 1, 2006.
Further years
All people who are interested in football know the story that happened in 2006. Then, “Juventus” lost two league titles and was sent to the lower division - Serie B. Many players left the team and moved to other clubs. But not Buffon. The goalkeeper remained, despite the fact that he was made advantageous offers “Milan” and “Inter”. Eventually, “The Old Senior” returned to Serie A, and Gigi extended the contract. Interestingly, in the same year, 2007, Buffon was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world.
Unfortunately, the next season, Gigi again overtook an injury - a herniated disc. A year later, he pulled the muscles on his right thigh. He missed many matches. In 2009, he underwent another operation - on his left knee. But as soon as he recovered, he immediately got a hip injury and again dropped out of the game. In 2010, Gigi received a hernia and another injury - displacement of the intervertebral disc. Gianluigi was operated on and out of action until 2011.
But, despite all this, it turned out that Buffon is a goalkeeper with incredibly strong endurance. Despite the constant injuries and injuries, he did not lose his grip and even continued to play even in between operations. And despite how old Buffon, the goalkeeper, or rather his endurance and strength, can still only be envied.
Career in the national team and achievements
Italian goalkeeper Buffon spent his debut in the national team in 1997 - in a match against Russia. Its potential was immediately noticed. It is not surprising that at the age of 20 he became the main goalkeeper of the national team.
Needless to say, because at the World Championships in 2006, he conceded only two goals. 418 “dry” minutes in a row - it was not only his personal achievement, but also the success of the team. However, Walter Dzengi with his 518 minutes still remained in the first place.
The Italian has many achievements, titles and trophies. He is a 9-time champion of Italy, who also won the Italian Cup three times, and 6 times - the Super Bowl. 2 times became the Champions League finalist, and with the national team - vice world champion and winner of the 2006 World Cup. But even more he has personal awards. Perhaps the most important is the rank of officer of the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic.
Personal life
Gigi had a wife - the Czech model Alena Seredova. They married after 3.5 years of relationship. And everything happened quite interestingly: initially they agreed that they would get married if Gigi became the world champion.
The couple has two children - Louis and David. True, since 2014, Alena and Gianluigi no longer live together - they divorced. Buffon now has a new lover - a TV presenter named Ilaria D'Amico. By the way, in January of this year they had a son, who was named Leopoldo Mattia.
Interestingly, Buffon owns a restaurant located in the city of Pistoia (called Zerosei) and a tourist company La Romanina.
In general, you can tell a lot about this really legendary goalkeeper. And it remains to be hoped that the 38-year-old goalkeeper, despite his adult (for an athlete) age, will continue to please his fans for a long time to come.