After 17 years and a hatful of trophies, Gianluigi Buffon said goodbye to Juventus on Saturday as the champions beat Verona 2-1.
Buffon, who won nine Serie A titles at Juve after joining from Parma in 2001, is not retiring but in search of a new challenge.
Here’s a look at how his final day with the Old Lady went down …
Arrivederci
And that’s it …
🙌 A standing ovation for our #NumeroUno, @gianluigibuffon, as @CarloPinsoglio1 takes to the field. 🙌#UN1CO 🏳🏴 #FINOALLAFINE pic.twitter.com/opjb7ngftj
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) May 19, 2018
After 64 minutes, it was time to say goodbye. With Juventus 2-0 up, Buffon left the pitch to rapturous applause.
Grazie Gigi
The legend
Buffon thanks the fans
Keeping it in the family
Thumbs up
The final lineup shot
Juve fans show their appreciation
Class is permanent
16′ 🙌 GIGI!!! @gianluigibuffon dives to his left to deny Fares 🙌#UN1CO 🏳🏴 #JuveVerona pic.twitter.com/xNOsGor5Ga
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) May 19, 2018
17 years with you, Grazie Gigi
An emotional farewell
There’s only one No.1 …
Buffon says goodbye
More tributes …
🙌 Forever #UN1CO 🙌@GianluigiBuffon 🏳🏴 #FinoAllaFine pic.twitter.com/4vgvXY46yw
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) 19 May 2018
Buffon feels the love from his adoring supporters one final time.
Gigi gees up the crowd …
.@gianluigibuffon 💪💪💪💪💪#UN1CO 🏳🏴 #FinoAllaFine pic.twitter.com/g2d1EUvycr
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) 19 May 2018
Ahead of his final match, Buffon saluted the Juventus fans who cheered him during the warm-up ahead of the clash with Verona.
And step this way for some more Buffon love, from when he turned 40 earlier this year. And there’s a great tribute to the departing hero from ESPN FC’s Juve blogger, Mina Rzouki.
Follow @ESPNFC on Twitter to keep up with the latest football updates.
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