Ranieri gets his man

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has signed a contract extension which will keep him at the Bianconeri until June 2012.

Buffon joined Juventus from Parma in 2001 - commanding a world-record fee for a goalkeeper of £32 million - and had been linked with a move to AC Milan.

"It is an important day for me, because I have written a new page in my career and life. The decision to stay is in line with what I decided last year which confirms my loyalty to this team, to this company and to Juventus fans who have never failed to show their affection for me. The project that I have seen for Juventus is convincing because the company has set important goals in which I believe, and because it creates the conditions for an increasingly stimulating relationship."

Personal information
Date of birth: 28-01-1978 (age 29)
Place of birth: Carrara, Italy
Height: 1.91m
Playing position: Goalkeeper

Club information
Senior clubs
Years Club App (Gls)
1995-2001...Parma F.C....168 (0)
2001-...Juventus F.C....171 (0)

National team
1995-1997...Italy U-21...9 (0)
1997-...Italy...72 (0)

- largest transfer figure ever for a goalkeeper at £32 million.
- his mother Maria Stella was a discus thrower, his father Adriano a weightlifter, his two sisters Veronica and Guendalina volleyball players, and his uncle Angelo Masocco a basketball player.
- In 1995, at the age of 17, Buffon was signed by Parma A.C. and he made his debut in the Italian Serie A championship against A.C. Milan.
- In 2003, he won the "Most Valuable Player" and "Best Goalkeeper" awards at the UEFA European Football Awards.
- named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers.
- Buffon, along with former Juventus goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti and several other players, participated in illegal betting on Serie A matches while with Parma.
- kept a 453-minute scoreless streak at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, putting him fifth in the all-time ranking for unbeaten goalkeepers.
- FIFA declared Buffon FIFA best goalkeeper of the 2006 World Cup.

Honours
Italian Cup: 1999
Italian Super Cup: 1999, 2002, and 2003
Italian Serie A: 2002, 2003
UEFA Cup: 1999
European Under-21 Football Championship: 1996
FIFA World Cup: 2006
FIFA World Player of the Year - Best Goalkeeper: 2004, 2005,2006
Yashin Award: 2006
World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
FIFPro World XI All-Star Team: 2006
FIFPro World XI Goalkeeper: 2006
European Footballer of the Year - Best Goalkeeper: 2003, 2004, 2006
European Footballer of the Year - Silver Ball: 2006
UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player: 2003
UEFA Club Football Awards - Best Goalkeeper: 2003
IFFHS World's best goalkeeper - Best Goalkeeper: 2003, 2004, 2006
Oscar calcio - Best Goalkeeper: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Onze d'Or - Best Goalkeeper: 2003, 2006
Bravo Award - Best young football (soccer) player in Europe: 1999
FIFA 100 - 125 greatest living players, as selected by Pelé: 2004