Italy great Gianluigi Buffon played his final game for Juventus on Saturday before tearfully exiting after a trophy-laden 17-year career in a 2-1 win over already relegated Verona.
Buffon — who had captained Juventus to a seventh straight Serie A title and fourth consecutive Italian Cup triumph this season — took his final bow midway through the second half.
It was the 656th game for the evergreen 40-year-old who arrived in Turin in 2001 from Parma.
The goalkeeper and captain was substituted by coach Massimiliano Allegri after 63 minutes.
He hugged all his teammates, on the field and on the bench, and then left the sidelines. Goalkeeper Carlo Pinsoglio then made his Serie A debut between the posts.
Buffon had said he did not want anything special for his final game. “I want to live this day normally. I ask nothing except what I have already had, esteem, affection and respect. The rest I do not need it. As a child, I did not like birthdays and be the centre of attention,” Buffon had said.
But there was thunderous applause and singing as the goalkeeper and Juventus captain emerged from the locker rooms.
Parma promoted
Parma has earned promotion to Serie A just three years after being declared bankrupt, becoming the first Italian club to earn three successive promotions.
Parma’s 2-0 win at Spezia on Friday saw it finish second in Serie B, after Frosinone conceded a late goal to draw 2-2 at home to Foggia. They finished level on points but Parma clinched second courtesy of a better head-to-head record.
The results: La Liga: Celta Vigo 4 (M. Gomez 29, 63, Aspas 41, 48) bt Levante 2 (Rochina 12, Morales 74).
Serie A: Juventus 2 (Rugani 49, Pjani 52) bt Hellas Verona 1 (Cerci 76).
