Milan teen Donnarumma youngest keeper to start Serie A match
AC Milan ‘s Ignazio Abate jumps over his teammates in celebration after Carlos Bacca scored the opening goal during a Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Sassuolo, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. AP
MILAN — AC Milan teenager Gianluigi Donnarumma became the youngest goalkeeper to start a Serie A match on Sunday when he made his debut for the club at the age of 16 years, 8 months, 6 days.
Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic surprisingly chose Donnarumma ahead of the experienced Diego Lopez and his side went on to beat Sassuolo 2-1.
“I don’t look at the age but only if he is good or not,” Mihajlovic said. “It shouldn’t be a drama.”
Donnarumma was beaten by a free kick by Domenico Berardi that made it 1-1 in the 53rd minute, but Luiz Adriano scored late to give Milan the win.
The youngest goalkeeper to play for Milan in the league was Giuseppe Sacchi, who came off the bench at the age of 16 years, 7 months, 24 days in a 3-1 loss to Fiorentina — 73 years ago to the day.
It was his only official match for Milan.
Gianluca Pacchiarotti holds the record for the youngest ever goalkeeper in Serie A after playing the final 10 minutes for Pescara in a 1-0 loss at Perugia on March 9, 1980. He was 16 years, 6 months, 16 days old.
Italy and Juventus goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon was 17 when he made his debut for Parma.
