Written for The Courier in the wake of the sad passing of World Cup winner Gordon Banks, as part of a list of the most iconic goalkeepers in the history of the game.
In 2016, When Gianluigi Buffon broke the Serie A record for the longest time without conceding a goal, he penned a wistful love letter to the net he defends:
“I was 12 when I turned my back on you, denying my past to guarantee you a safe future. I went with my heart. I went with my instinct. But the day I stopped looking you in the face is also the day that I started to love you, to protect you, to be your first and last line of defence”
I wonder how many other footballers could get away with such gushing poetry…
Although he plays the game with his hands, Gigi is the quintessential Italian footballer: the physical embodiment of reliability and composure, but also of passion and eccentricity.
He remains the only goalkeeper to break the world transfer record after his move from Parma to Juve for €52 million in 2001 – an astronomical figure for a goalkeeper, even today. 11 Serie A and 4 Coppa Italia titles later, it’s fair to say it was a bargain.
The highlight of Buffon’s career came on the international stage as his Italy side triumphed at the 2006 World Cup – Gigi conceding only through an own-goal and a penalty. One of the enduring images of that tournament is Gianluigi between the sticks, resplendent in gold, sporting his Alice band and trademark short-sleeves.
His heroic performances earnt him runner-up in that year’s Ballon D’or, second only to Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro. Like Cannavaro, Buffon is surely one of the finest players never to have won the Champions League.
After 17 seasons with the Bianconeri, the 41-year-old Tuscan has moved to Paris in search of European glory. PSG are far from the most universally liked team but there are few who would begrudge Buffon were he to lift the elusive trophy with them after 20 years at the absolute pinnacle of world football.
Adam Williams - Portfolio 