Parma, Buffon as manager? Krause’s idea after the European Championship with Italy

Journalist

May 21st – 9.44am – PARMA

What if Parma’s first signing as soon as they returned to Serie A was called Gianluigi Buffon? No longer in goal, because Superman finished with the pitch, but behind a desk, as an operations manager. It is the idea that president Kyle Krause has been reflecting on for some time, having already formulated a concrete proposal to the former champion and is awaiting a response. Obviously, we need to think about the place that Buffon would occupy in the club’s organizational chart, but we are not far from the truth if we imagine a “Rummenigge-style” role for him. That is, the same job that the great Kalle has carried out at Bayern Munich for many years: a point of reference for the team, for the coach, for the fans, a man who communicates directly with the president and whose style and characteristics he transmits to the club. principles.

scenarios

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Today Buffon is the head of the national delegation and this will be his role at the next European Championship. His experience with the Azzurri, which began immediately after ending his career in the summer of 2023, is proving to be very positive and Gigi’s trust in Spalletti’s group is total. He has declared it on a thousand occasions: Italy can play against everyone and he will help the boys reach that goal that everyone dreams of. Afterwards, however, in the hope of having contributed to conquering something great, he would like to test himself with a new adventure. At least this is what we understand by reading between the lines of the conversations he has with his friends and closest people. In this, his first year away from the pitch, he followed the sports director course, in January he began a master’s degree in Business and administration at Bocconi University which will end at the end of May, and he also dove into a full immersion in English. All to be ready for the call of the future. Buffon feels he can play an operational role, he doesn’t intend to be a flagship man for life.

pros and cons

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Talks are frequent with president Krause and, with a view to corporate restructuring after the promotion to Serie A, the entrepreneur from Iowa had no doubts in identifying Buffon as the right person to relaunch Parma’s image among the greats of football. To say that the relationship between Gigi and the city is solid is even banal: here he was born as a champion and here he decided to end his career, as if in this perfect circle there was also an extreme feeling of gratitude. Last week, the Municipality of Parma organized an event to award him the seal of the city, concrete evidence of a bond that is above all emotional. It is normal, however, that Buffon intends to reflect on the proposal received, also because accepting would mean starting a new career: it is not like him to make hasty decisions, he wants to reason, ponder, evaluate the pros and cons.

wait

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In the last days of May, when president Krause returns to Italy to outline the plan for Parma of the future, there should be the definitive acceleration to conclude this operation. Obviously, Buffon will keep the federal president updated on developments. In the offices of the Emilian club it is clear to everyone that the leap in quality, if you want to play a Serie A as protagonists, cannot be done only by purchasing players, but a very high level management is needed. And a man like Buffon, with his experience and passion, would be the right man in the right place.