World champion and Italy goalkeeper Gigi Buffon celebrates 24 years since his debut in Serie A. Indeed, on November, 19 1995 Buffon, with the Parma jersey, enters the field to replace the injured Luca Bucci. That Parma - Milan marks the beginning of the career of an Italian champion.

Buffon world champion in 2006
"Gianluigi Buffon" by duysafari is under-licensed CC BY-SA 2.0 

The choice of Buffon as starter

On Sunday November, 19 1995, a championship game is played at Tardini Stadium. To tell the truth it is an important game. In fact, Milan led by Fabio Capello arrives. Considering the value of the opponent, a great Luca bucci is needed to defend Parma's goal. But the goalkeeper was injured on Tuesday in training. During the entire week coach Nevio Scala, coach of that Parma, observes in particular Alessandro Nista. The second goalkeeper of the team is not the only one to be observed. In fact, there is also a seventeen-year-old boy aggregated by the youth. Gianluigi Buffon is the goalkeeper that coach Nista observes.

Buffon's first match in Serie A
19 November 1995, the adventure in Serie A begins for a still minor Gigi Buffon.
Author: Allsport / Getty Images License: Public domain

To tell the truth, to dispel any doubt, Nista relies on Enzo DiPalma. The goalkeeping coach who during the week especially observes how no one manages to score against Buffon in training. Similarly, the coach also notices that little boy who looks like a great goalkeeper. In the end it was decided to risk and try Gigi Buffon. In fact, that Sunday against Milan there is Buffon for the first time between the poles.

Buffon made his debut on November 19th 1995

Gigi, a young man still minor finds himself playing against Roberto Baggio and George Weah. Considering that this is the Milan who will win the scudetto at the end of the season, it is also the team coached by Fabio Capello. From a point of view of names, Milan is a team that shakes their legs in Italy as in Europe. But despite the opponent's caliber, Buffon does not let himself be intimidated. On the contrary, Gigi makes two decisive saves on the field and saves the result, a 0-0 final. But even more important than the result is the fact that Buffon leaves the field as Parma's best player. Moreover Fabio Capello comments at the end of the race saying that the failure to win is due to the presence of Buffon in the goal. In other words, from that day the Serie A knows a new star, that of Gianluigi Buffon.

The young Gigi Buffon grows and is trained in Parma Calcio

Acquired by Parma when he was 13, for 15 million lire, the young Buffon begins his adventure. The world of football tries it first as a midfielder then, at 14, he discovers his skills di lui as a goalkeeper. From that moment on, Buffon maintained his position of him as an extreme defender. At the same time, the young Gigi grows footballing in yellow and blue under the guidance of Hermes Fulgoni. The goalkeeping coach is above all a teacher for Buffon.

Gigi Buffon - Italy friendly in Parma; Cannavaro and Buffon greet the fans of the Italian national team after a friendly match played at Tardini
In 1998 Gigi Buffon played a friendly game with Italian National Team at Tardini, the stadium that saw his debut in 1995. Author: unknown License: Public domain

The Serie A debut took place on November 19, 1995 against Milan as a substitute for starting goalkeeper, Luca Bucci. The goalkeeper was injured this week and coach Nevius Scala chose Buffon, still a minor because he was impressed by his qualities. On the other hand, in the match against Milan the young goalkeeper is one of the best in the field. In fact, the following Sunday Buffon still plays in the match against Juventus. In that game, however, he collects his first goal from Ciro Ferrara. The match ends, however, 1-1.

Gigi Buffon celebrates 24 years since his Serie A debut last edit: 2019-11-19T11:54:40+01:00 da Angelo Franchitto

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