Gianluigi Buffon - goalkeeper, whose name will forever remain in the history of Italian football

Buffon - goalkeeper, who knows the whole world. His name is on hearing even among 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, who 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 in a sports family. The father was the pusher of the nucleus. Mom was the champion of Italy, not only in this sport - she won first place in the national championship of discus throwing. My uncle played in the basketball division A1. And both sisters of our hero at a professional level were engaged in water polo. And Gigi is a distant relative of a man who once was also the goalkeeper of the Italian national team, and his name was Lorenzo Buffon.

It is interesting that in his childhood Gigi was ill for FC Genoa. And he studied football skills in a simple amateur team from the town called Spice. After graduation, he returned to his hometown of Carrara and began to play for FC "Perticata". This was also an amateur team. Interestingly, Buffon - the goalkeeper, known throughout the world, in his youth acted as a midfielder.

Life before "Juventus"

Buffon - goalkeeper, whose biography is inextricably linked with the Turin club "Juventus". But he came to it 15 years ago - in 2001. Until that moment, he played for Parma for ten more years, five of which were for the adult line-up. It is interesting that besides this team, such well-known clubs as Milan and Bologna fought for young Gigi. However, it was Parma who managed to buy Buffon. For them, they gave, by the way, 15 million lire.

When Gianluigi turned 14, he took up his position as a goalkeeper. And then all the other goalkeepers of the youth team sat on the bench for a long time. Head coach, after watching two weeks for the game newcomer, approved him as the main goalkeeper.

And in 1995, Gigi made his debut in the match for the main line-up. He played 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 overall the results were very impressive, and already in the next season Buffon - goalkeeper with great prospects, played 27 games. And in 1997, he made his debuts in all European competitions. At the same time, by the way, he played the match for the first time with his national team.

Moving to Turin

In 2001, Gianluigi was bought by Juventus for a sum of 75 billion lire. By the way - the largest amount in the history of football, which was 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 suffered a serious injury - dislocated his shoulder. For three months he had to recover. During this time he was replaced by Christian Abbiati. And even after his return, Capello, who was the head coach of the "Old Lady" at the time, was not in a hurry to release Gigi on the field. Only at the end of January he began to appear in matches. And there were successes. But despite the fact that Buffon - the goalkeeper, who has a good, stable game, he had a protracted period during which he failed to reflect a single penalty. It lasted from the end of October 2003 until December 1, 2006.

Further years

All the people who are fond of football know the story that happened in 2006. Then, "Juventus" lost two championship titles and was sent to the lower division - a series of 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 proposals, "Milan" and "Inter". Eventually the "Old Lady" returned to Serie A, and Gigi extended the contract. It is interesting that in the same year, 2007, Buffon was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world.

Unfortunately, the next season, Gigi again caught up with a trauma - hernia disc. A year later he pulled the muscles on his right hip. He missed many matches. In 2009, he was given another operation - on his left knee. But as soon as he recovered, immediately got a hip injury and again dropped out of the game. In 2010, Gigi received a hernia and another injury - the displacement of the intervertebral disc. Gianluigi was operated on and was out of action until 2011.

But, despite all this, it turned out that Buffon - the goalkeeper with incredibly strong endurance. Not paying attention to permanent injuries and injuries, he did not lose his grip and even in the intervals between operations he continued to play. And despite how many years of Buffon, the goalkeeper, or rather his restraint and strength, still can only be envied.

Career in the national team and achievements

Goalkeeper of Italy Buffon made his debut in the national team in 1997 - in a match against Russia. His potential was immediately noticed. Not surprisingly, at the age of 20 he became the main goalkeeper of the national team.

Needless to say, after all, at the World Championship, in 2006, he missed only two goals. 418 "dry" minutes in a row - it was not only his personal achievement, but also the success of the team. However, in the first place was still Walter Zengi with his 518 minutes.

Achievements, titles and trophies from the Italian a lot. He is the 9-time champion of Italy, who also won the Italian Cup three times and the Super Cup six times. 2 times became a finalist of the Champions League, and with the team - the vice-champion of the world and the winner of the 2006 World Cup. But he has even more personal rewards. Perhaps the most important is the title of officer of the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic.

Personal life

Gigi had a wife - a Czech model Alena Sheredova. They married after 3.5 years of relationship. And everything happened quite interesting: initially they agreed that they would get married if Gigi became the world champion.

The couple have two children - Louis and David. However, since 2014 Alain and Gianluigi no longer live together - divorced. Now Buffon has a new lover - a TV presenter named Hilaria D'Amico. By the way, in January this year they had a son, who was named Leopoldo Mattia.

It is interesting that Buffon owns a restaurant located in the city of Pistoia (called Zerosei) and a tourist company La Romanina.

In general, this really legendary goalkeeper can tell a lot of interesting things. And it remains to be hoped that the 38-year-old goalkeeper, despite his age (for the athlete) age, will continue to please his fans for a long time.