(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 5 - Italian goalkeeping great Gianluigi
Buffon is set to join Italy coach Roberto Mancini's backroom
staff, ANSA sources said on Saturday.
The 2006 World Cup-winner has accepted Italian Soccer Federation
(FIGC) President Gabriele Gravina's offer for him to become the
Azzurri's delegation chief, the sources said.
The position was previously held by another former Italy great,
Gianluca Vialli, who died at the age of 58 in January after a
battle with pancreatic cancer.
Buffon, one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, announced
on Wednesday that he was retiring from football.
The former Italy and Juventus captain had played the last two
seasons in Serie B with Parma, the club he made his top-flight
debut with aged 17 in 1995.
The 45-year-old rejoined them in 2021 from Juventus after
picking up his 23rd trophy with the Turin giants with an Italian
Cup win over Atalanta.
He had been at Juve since 2001, barring a brief sojourn at PSG
in 2018-2019, and won a record 10 Serie A titles with them.
(ANSA).
Soccer: Buffon to join national team staff
Former Italy and Juve captain to be Azzurri delegation chief