Gianluigi Buffon

Parma

1991–1994: youth career and early professional career

Buffon played youth football as a midfielder with La Spezia–based amateur club U.S.D. Canaletto Sepor, before returning to Carrara to play for Perticata, then Bonascola. Buffon's first footballing idol was midfielder Blaž Slišković during the latter's first stint at Pescara. Despite offers from Bologna and Milan, Buffon began his career with the Parma youth system in 1991, as the team's coach was struck by his physical qualities. At the youth academy, he played in several out-field positions, especially as a midfielder, before switching to goalkeeper. His idol Thomas N'Kono inspired this change of position due to his goalkeeping for Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup; when both of the Parma youth team's keepers suddenly suffered injuries, Buffon was called upon due to his interest, height and physical attributes. He quickly adapted to this role, and within two weeks he had been promoted to first keeper of the Parma youth team. After a call-up to train with the first team during the summer of 1994, Buffon was promoted to the senior squad in 1995 and, at the age of 17 years and 295 days, made his Serie A debut for Parma under Nevio Scala on 19 November 1995. Buffon made seven more first team appearances that season and one appearance in the Coppa Italia, making his debut in the competition. At Parma, he trained under goalkeeping coach Villiam Vecchi.

1996–2001: making the starting eleven, early…

Youth career, early call-ups and Euro 2000 qualification

Buffon represented Italy at all youth levels, from the under-16 side to the under-23 side, as well as the Olympic side in 1996. With the under-16 side, he reached the final of the 1993 UEFA European Under-16 Championship, saving two penalties and even scoring one himself in the quarter-final shootout victory over Spain, and subsequently saving three penalties – but also missing one himself – in the semi-final shootout victory over Czechoslovakia. With the Italy under-17 side he took part at the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Japan. In 1995, he reached the final of the UEFA European under-19 Championship with the Italian under-19 side. He was a member of Italy's 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Championship-winning squad. Buffon was a member of the Italy squad that won the gold medal for football at the 1997 Mediterranean Games in Bari, on home soil. Buffon currently holds the record for the most clean sheets with the Italy national side. Buffon was awarded his first cap for the senior Italy national team under Cesare Maldini on 29 October 1997, aged 19 years, 274 days, as an injury replacement for Gianluca Pagliuca during the first leg of the 1998 World Cup qualification play-off against Russia, in Moscow; with this cap, Buffon became the youngest goalkeeper to feature for Italy post-World War II. This record was beaten by Gianluigi Donnarumma on 1 September 2016. Buffon came on in the 31st minute and made…

Club

International

Buffon was born in Carrara, Tuscany. His mother, Maria Stella Masocco, was a discus thrower, while his father, Adriano, was a weightlifter of Friulian origin, from Latisana. Following their athletic retirement, they worked as P.E. school teachers. Buffon's two sisters, Veronica and Guendalina, played volleyball for the Italian national volleyball team, while his maternal uncle, Dante Masocco, was a basketball player in Serie A1, who also represented the national team. Buffon is also the second cousin twice removed of football goalkeeper Lorenzo Buffon. In his youth, Buffon supported a number of clubs, including his hometown club Carrarese, Serie A heavyweight Juventus, and German side Borussia Mönchengladbach. Between the ages of eight and twelve, Buffon turned to supporting Inter Milan due to his admiration for manager Giovanni Trapattoni, along with Italian sides Pescara, Como, Avellino, and Campobasso, before finally settling with Genoa. He was a member of the ultras of Carrarese, specifically the "Commando Ultrà Indian Tips", and has the group's name printed on his goalkeeping gloves.