NATIONAL TEAM
CALCIO NEWS
TRAVEL IN CALCIO LAND
HISTORY
THE LEGEND
DEFENDERS
MIDFIELDS
FORWARDS
28/01/78
PLACE
CARRARA (MS)
International Debut 29/10/1997 v Russia (drew 1-1)
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made his debut for Parma at the tender age of 17. He immediately kept a clean sheet against AC Milan. With Parma he won the UEFA Cup, the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup in 1999. His transfer to Juventus during the summer of 2001 made him the most expensive shot-stopper in the world. A strong and imposing player on the field, Buffon demonstrates a calmness and presence of mind worthy of any veteran Serie A goalkeeper. Standing at 1.88m, he has a good command of his area and excellent aerial authority. In many ways he reminds one of Milan's Sebastiano Rossi, though it is my sincere hope that he will outshine Rossi and not doesn't pick up on his erraticness! Made league debut at 16 and became Italy's second youngest goalkeeper of all time when he made his full debut in 1997 as a substitute against Russia in a World Cup playoff in Moscow. He has since secured a regular place in the national side, and he played seven EURO 2000? qualifying matches, keeping four clean sheets. Calm beyond his years, he is an imposing presence, athletic and acrobatic with great reflexes. He is nephew of Lorenzo Buffon, who played 15 times in goal for Italy between 1958 and 1962, while both his sisters are accomplished volleyball players. He won the UEFA Cup and Italian Cup with Parma in 1998/99 and has also picked up a UEFA European Under ?21 Championship winners medal in a career which will surely only get better for this down-to-earth young ?keeper. He made his first appearance for the national team when coming on as a substitute during the 1998 World Cup play-off clash with Russia in a snowy Moscow. The match ended 1-1 and Italy eventually won through to France '98. Since then Buffon has secured a regular place in the national side, and played in seven Euro 2000 qualifying matches, keeping four clean sheets.
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Christian Abbiati