Gianluigi Buffon Reveals When He Plans To Retire, It's No Time Soon

Legendary Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon says he has no intention of hanging up his gloves in the immediate future.

Buffon is still going strong at the age of 44 and is currently preparing to play in his 28^th season in first-team football.

The former Italy captain is now back at Parma, having rejoined his boyhood club from Juventus last summer.

Buffon made 26 appearances in all competitions last season and the veteran shot-stopper has played down talk of retirement after the upcoming campaign, even suggesting he could play on for another decade.

"Ten years in Parma in his first life, then 20 years at Juve in his second life, then one to Paris, two to Juve and now I close the circle in Parma and I'm in my second year," said Buffon, reflecting on his illustrious career in football.

"And I'm not 100. Retired at 55? More or less. Will I train after the retirement? I have been thinking for many years about when I will stop. My ideas get confused, I've been thinking about it for 10 years but then I always go on." 

Buffon also suggested he may choose a different career path outside of football once he does eventually hang up his gloves.

Buffon is now back at his boyhood club Parma (Image: Alamy)

"I have had important experiences that have allowed me to get to know the world of football, but I'm not 100 per cent sure that I will stay in this world," he added.

"Maybe I'll experience something else, I know football, I'm curious and I also like to know other worlds."

Buffon has played an incredible 956 first-team games in club football since making his debut for Parma back in 1995.

He has won numerous trophies over the course of his career, including 10 Serie A titles with Juventus.

Buffon is also the most-capped player in the history of the Italian national side, having made 176 appearances for the Azzurri – with the highlight of his career coming in their World Cup win in 2006.

While he is now retired from international football, Buffon looks set to continue to add to his club statistics as Parma prepare for another season in Serie B.

But he has some way to go if he wants to become the oldest professional footballer player in the world.

That title goes to Japan's Kazuyoshi Miura, who is still playing up front for the Suzuka Point Getters at the grand old age of 55.

Topics: Gianluigi Buffon, Italy, Football, Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Serie A

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan