Gianluigi Buffon Quotes

After much deliberation I have made the decision to retire from playing international football.

Nobody wants to retire from football.

The end of my playing career was May 28, 2017. That, for me, was an historic day. I'll carry it with me forever. It will be hard to explain to people the feelings and emotions I felt that day.

When I retired in 1994, I was never tempted to drop down the divisions to carry on playing. In fact, I never kicked a ball again, not even in a charity match.

I don't ever want to be carried off the court.

It's terrible to consider never playing another Test again but what's more terrifying is the thought of never playing again at all.

I will not play a farewell game with the national team. I would like to thank the federation for expressing an interest. But I prefer to leave football with an official match because I am not a fan of farewell games.

I would have loved to have had a farewell match, and would have wanted the DFB to make that offer. But certain people did not plan that for me. I have to accept that.

The first time I retired, only Sir Alex Ferguson and I knew that the last league game of the 2010-11 season against Blackpool was to be my final game at Old Trafford. I was a little bit sad, but I am not one for tears. The end of a career comes to us all, and there is not a lot you can do about that.

I'm sorry I didn't feel any better or play any better, but that's what happens at the end of careers.

The saddest day of my life was the day I didn't get to play football anymore.

You gotta know when it's time to hang up. But when I finally go, let me go out on stage, my perfect ending. Don't let me go when I'm sick or asleep. Let me be in motion.

I don't want to imagine the time when I have to stop playing.

When it's my last year, I'll probably let people know when that last pitch is thrown and say thanks and walk away.

I won the Premier League and played for England but it seems everyone always remembers me best for swearing live on BBC One on a Sunday afternoon.

I want to end my career in Kansas City. I want to play there. I love the city, I love the vibe; I love my teammates.

All the people who were needed to be told about my decision were informed. 2021 World Cup would definitely be my swansong. I am looking forward to preparing for the World Cup.

Honestly, during the 2018 World Cup itself, I was saying T20 World Cup was going to be my last.

I have said goodbye to international cricket.

It's always hard the moment you decide to stop playing. It doesn't matter if you're at a small club or a big club: it's the end of your playing career, so that's always going to be a big moment for any player.

Unfortunately, everyone's football career does come to an end.

All I know is that when you look over at the coaches on the other sideline, and all you see are guys who either coached with you or played for you, then you know it's time to get out.

The time you are happy to sit on the bench, is the time you should retire in my opinion.

If one day I leave Shenhua, it will be the day I retire.

I think of football as a sport the way ducks think of hunting as a sport.