Football legend Gianluigi Buffon is set to retire from the game aged 45, it has been reported.
Buffon, who’s represented Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Parma and the Italian national team, is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all time.
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Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that the player will terminate his contract a year early in the coming days before officially announcing his farewell.
It’s understood Buffon will then assume the role as Head of Delegation with the Italian national team, which was previously held by Gianluca Vialli, who died in January.
Buffon has enjoyed a stellar playing career spanning 28 years which has seen him win ten Serie A titles, six Coppa Italias and a Ligue 1 crown. He won the World Cup with the Italian national team.
He’s also scooped up a plethora of individual accolades including the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) Goalkeeper of the Decade award, 13 Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year awards and a spot in Juventus’ Greatest Team of All Time.
Buffon also boasts a number of impressive records, including the most appearances for Italy (176) and most appearances in Serie A (657).
The highlight of his career came with Italy, who won the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Buffon was Italy keeper when they finished runners-up at Euro 2012.
The player is best known for his time at Juventus but it was at Parma where he begun his career. Buffon was part of the squad that won the Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup double in the 1998/99 season.
His brilliance for Parma earned him a then-world record £44million move to Italian giants Juve in the summer of 2001, where he stayed for 17 years.
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In Turin he scooped his ten league titles over two spells having spent the 2018/19 season with Paris Saint-Germain. He also won five Coppa Italias and six Suppercoppa Italian titles with the Old Lady. However, the Champions League is an honour that’s always evaded him.
He left for a second time in 2021 to return to Parma, who had just been relegated from the Italian top flight.
Buffon has been unable to guide Parma back to Serie A, cutting an emotional figure as his side lost in the Serie B play-offs.
But this setback is only the most minor stain on what’s been a truly iconic career for Buffon.
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