Which Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea greats made Gigi Buffon's all-time list

Gigi Buffon is still going strong at Juventus aged 37

GIANLUIGI BUFFON says Arsenal's Petr Cech is the "most complete" goalkeeper in football.

 

Buffon, 37, made his professional debut between the sticks for Parma 20 years ago today.

The stopper, who remains the world's most expensive goalkeeper having been bought by Juventus for £33million in 2001, is contracted to the Turin club until 2017.

And, reflecting on his career, Buffon told Spanish newspaper Marca of his admiration for fellow goalkeepers.

 

“The best goalkeeper of my era has been (Iker) Casillas,” Buffon explained.

“He’s always been the best with his hands.

"People always say (Lev) Yashin, (Ricardo) Zamora, (Dino) Zoff, (Sepp) Maier and (Gordon) Banks.

“If I had to select those of my era, I’d say (Peter) Schmeichel, (Walter) Zenga, (Gianluca) Pagliuca and (Andoni) Zubizzareta.

“In the last decade, Cech and Casillas have been the best, while in the last three years I’d say Manuel Neuer, he’s fantastic in the air.

"The Czech though [Cech] is the most complete overall.”

 

Buffon earned his first of 154 Italy caps in 1997, when Schmeichel was excelling at Old Trafford with Manchester United.

The Dane won five Premier League titles with the Red Devils, three FA Cups, the League Cup and famously the 1999 Champions League in his last appearance for the club.

He moved to Portuguese side Sporting Lisbon for two years before returning to England to play for Aston Villa and then Manchester City.

Cech, meanwhile, was one of the central players in Chelsea's success over the past decade, having joined the club in 2004 just after Roman Abramovich had taken over. 

 

Peter Schmeichel remains one of Manchester United's greatest ever goalkeepers

 

Petr Cech won his fourth league title with Chelsea last season before signing for Arsenal

He also won the Champions League, having lost in a shoot-out to United in the 2008 final, and helped Chelsea to four league titles, four FA Cups and four League Cups.

But after 11 years at Stamford Bridge he was sold to Arsenal for £10m this summer and has kept six top-flight clean sheets as the Gunners battle for the title.

As for Buffon, Juve find themselves seventh in Serie A as they battle to defend their championship won for a fourth straight season last May.