Juventus and Gianlugi Buffon
on Thursday celebrated the 20-year (and counting) career of the
37-year-old Italy goalkeeping legend.
Juventus head coach Massimo Allegri said "I hope he will go
on for as long as possible, certainly as long as I am manager.
Buffon is an extraordinary goalkeeper, perhaps the best ever in
the history of football. He never fails."
Buffon said "It's been a beautiful journey. I have changed
very much. At first I was a boy with all the virtues and the
shortcomings of boys. Now I am an adult, I'm more mature and
reflexive, and I hope not to make certain errors.
"[Am I legend?] No, no, legends seem to have something that
isn't very human and I don't like them. I am an athlete with
soul, with heart, for the good and for the bad, that's for
others to judge.
"I consider myself a footballer who marked a part of the
history of the sport in Italy, in Europe and in the world. But
you turn into a legend when you die. I hope that's in the very
distant future!"
Thursday was 20 years to the day that Buffon made his Serie
A debut for Parma as a 17-year-old against AC Milan.
The clean sheet he kept on November 19, 1995 was the first
of many in a distinguished career that has seen him become
Italy's most-capped player and one of the greatest goalkeepers
of all-time.
Among a number of records, he is the only goalkeeper to
ever be awarded the UEFA Footballer of the Year award in 2003,
one of only three players to take part in five World Cups - one
of which he won in 2006 - and is on the verge of becoming
Juventus' second-highest appearance maker after Alessandro Del
Piero.
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