It has been three decades since Gianluigi Buffon broke onto the scene for Parma’s first team, setting the foundations for a legendary career that saw him win a World Cup with Italy, 10 Serie A titles with Juventus, a Coppa Italia and UEFA Cup with Parma, and stake a claim as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.

By Zach Lowy

Gianluigi Buffon returned to his boyhood club after 20 years away, making 26 appearances throughout the 2021/22 campaign and becoming the first goalkeeper in the history of men’s football to keep 500 clean sheets, before following that up with 19 appearances in 2022/23 as Parma fell to Cagliari in the Serie B promotion play-off finals.

Buffon hung up his boots at the age of 45 in August 2023, with Parma turning to Argentine veteran Leandro Chichizola. Chichzola did enough to lead Parma back to the top-flight after a three-year drought, but not enough to convince manager Fabio Pecchia that he should be the starter in Serie A. Instead, Parma signed Zion Suzuki for €7.5 million plus €2.5 million in bonuses from Belgian club Sint-Truiden, who received a 10% sell-on clause. It hasn’t taken long for Suzuki to make a name for himself as one of the top shot-stoppers in Serie A, and there’s reason to believe that he can follow in Buffon’s footsteps by emerging as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.

Born in Newark, New Jersey to a Ghanaian father and a Japanese mother, Suzuki left the United States at an early age and moved to Japan. He became the youngest player in Urawa Red Diamonds’ history to sign a professional contract at 16 years and 5 months old in January 2019, waiting another two years before keeping a clean sheet on his professional debut in the J. League Cup as well as a clean sheet in each of his first three J.League matches. Whilst he never quite managed to cement a starting spot during his 14-year spell at Urawa, Suzuki made 29 first-team appearances before eventually joining Sint-Truiden in 2023, where he quickly became the No. 1. After just one year in Belgium, Suzuki was on the move once again, joining Parma on a five-year contract and becoming their first Japanese player since Hidetoshi Nakata back in 2001. Suzuki raised eyebrows early on by speaking Italian in his first press conference, showcasing a confidence that has been on full display during his first months in Italy.

Suzuki was given the start for Parma’s league opener and took the opportunity by the scruff of his neck, making six saves in a 1-1 draw vs. Fiorentina, before being called into action on multiple occasions and passing with flying colors in a 2-1 victory against Milan. He has quickly solidified a starting spot in goal – just like he’s done with the Japanese national team – and emerged as one of the first names on Fabio Pecchia’s team sheet. Parma sit 16th in the table, one point clear of the relegation zone , thanks in large part to Suzuki’s individual heroics in goal. He’s making 3.3 saves per game (the joint fifth-most in Serie A) with a save percentage of 67.4%, whilst only Genoa’s Nicola Leali (5.7) and Vanja Milinković-Savić (3.7) have prevented more goals than him (2.1).

There have been signs of inexperience, like on August 31 when he received a second yellow for a clumsy challenge on David Neres and allowed Napoli to score two late goals in a comeback 2-1 win. However, Suzuki’s aggressive nature has dovetailed with Pecchia’s tactical vision, charging off his line when required, sweeping up danger, and making his presence known in aerial duels. Standing 6’3”, Suzuki has the athleticism and wingspan to not only stop a powerful shot from traveling into the goal, but get a strong punch to it and prevent it from ricocheting into a dangerous area. He’s exhibited his quick reflexes and impressive decision-making in a number of high-pressure scenarios, constantly well-positioned and switched on and capable of getting down and laying out his body on a moment’s notice to defuse a travelling effort. What’s more, Suzuki has excelled in possession and has proven adept at spraying the ball high and wide and triggering an instantaneous counter-attack. It’s little wonder why the 16-time-capped Japan international has quickly emerged as a fan favorite at the Stadio Ennio Tardini.

Compared to goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues, Suzuki ranks in the 92nd percentile for crosses stopped (9.8%) as well as the 74th for Post-Shot Expected Goals minus Goals Allowed (+0.11). He is the third-highest rated Parma player (6.96) and has the joint-most Man of the Match awards (4) in FotMob’s Serie A database alongside Lazio’s Mattia Zaccagni and Nuno Tavares, Roma’s Paulo Dybala, Genoa’s Andrea Pinamonti and Torino’s Milinković-Savić.

Suzuki had the opportunity to join Manchester United in 2023 and serve as André Onana’s backup – instead, he chose to leave Japan for Belgium in order to get regular minutes at the senior level. That patience is starting to pay off for him, who has become the first Japanese goalkeeper in Serie A history this season. At 22 years old, Suzuki has built a reputation as one of the most exciting goalkeeping prospects in Europe, and it’s only a matter of time before he departs Parma for one of the biggest clubs in the continent.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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