One of the best goalkeepers in Serie A and football history, Gianluigi Buffon, is reportedly weighing up the prospect of hanging up his boots. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Parma shot-stopper is closer to retiring from professional football than extending his trophy-laden career.
While one would say – it was about time – it’s never a good time to see a football icon walking off. It’s been a couple of months since Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his retirement. And if you ask any Serie A enthusiast, seeing Buffon calling time on his career in such a short timeframe, it’s probably too much to digest.
But the wheel of time is relentless. No one is spared, not even those timeless legends such as Buffon and Ibrahimovic. At 45, the Italian keeper looked equally hungry and agile last season at Parma as he was on the first day back in 1995! That’s correct – he made his senior debut for the Crusaders 28 years ago.
After earning a reputation as a generational talent, Buffon moved to Juventus in 2001. As they say – the rest is history. During his 20-year career in Turin (barring a brief spell at Paris Saint-Germain in 2018/19), he helped to shape up one of the most successful generations Serie A has every seen.
Now, after ten Serie A titles and over 1,100 professional appearances, Buffon is ready to move on with his life. Maybe far away from football. Or maybe not. Who cares as long as he pursues his dreams?
No matter which team in Italy you support, you must love Gigi. Perhaps he’s the last active player of his generation, but he’s certainly one of the best. Not now, not before, but for eternity!
Whatever choice you make, Serie A will remember you forever. And we, true football romantics, will always be grateful for the privilege of watching you.
Grazie Gigi!
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