'El Capità': Carles Puyol

~ Personal information
- Full name: Carles Puyol i Saforcada
- Date of birth: 13 April 1978 (1978-04-13) (age 33)
- Place of birth: La Pobla de Segur, Spain
- Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
- Playing position: Defender (CB - RB).

~ Biography
Carles Puyol began his footballing career in the local team of the small town where he was born, La Pobla de Segur. His talent soon attracted wider attention and, at the age of 17, he was signed up for the Barca academy at La Masía.

He rapidly became a fixture in Barca B and then progressed to make his debut with the first team on 2nd October 1999 against Valladolid at the orders of Louis Van Gaal. His appearances became more and more frequent until he made the right back position his own. Thanks to his determination to improve and a tremendous work rate, Carles Puyol adapted to the position of central defender.

In the 2003-2004 season, having been chosen as thirdcaptain, he played a vital role in the team's sensational run of form that led to the runners-up place in the league. Puyol made 27 appearances in the league and seven in the UEFA Cup.

However, Carles Puyol had to wait until the 2004-05 season to win his first medal with Barca. He was, by then, captain of the first team and an essential part of Frank Rijkaard's league championship winning side. At the end of the season, he finally saw his dream come true of lifting the league trophy in the Nou Camp.

During the 2005-06 season, he played as well as he had the previous year. The Barça captain had the honour of being presented with the league title trophy before the game against Espanyol, before lifting the UEFA Champions League in Paris after the monumental victory against Arsenal in the Saint-Denis Stadium. Puyol only missed five matches all season and none through injury. On three occasions he was rested by coach Frank Rijkaard and was then suspended for the other two games which he did not play in. He also scored one goal as he headed home during the 5-0 victory against Real Sociedad on October 30, 2005.

At the end of the following season in 2006/07 (in which he played in 35 of 38 League games), Carles Puyol suffered the worst injury of his career when the League was already over. He damaged ligaments in his knee in a friendly played in Pretoria on 20 June 2007 and this kept him out until 29 September. Despite missing the first months of the competition, the club captain finally played in 30 League games in the 2007/08 campaign.


In the treble winning season 2008/09, Carles Puyol was once again Barça's most versatile defender. Guardiola used him as a right back in the Champions League final, a left back in the Copa del Rey final and also as centre back in most games. A great utility player, he also showed he can score goals, such as his header in the historic 6-2 win at the Bernabéu. In Rome he made history by becoming the first Barça captain to lift the Champions league trophy twice.

In the 2009-10 season he won his fourth league title. The captain is incredibly consistent and is one of the defenders most used by Pep Guardiola in the heart of defence.


Puyol was less fortunate in 2010/11, where despite winning his fifth league and third Champions League, he only played 27 matches (his fewest appearances since 2000/01). Towards the end of the season, he underwent arthroscopy on his left knee to extract loose cartilage from his femur.

Carles Puyol is also a fixture in the Spanish national side, with which he played in the 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cups and in the European Championships in 2004 and 2008. In the latter he was key figure as Spain won the title in Vienna.

In the summer of 2010 he won the only club or international medal that was missing from his collection. One of the cornerstones of the team, he collection. One of the cornerstones of the team, he played in all seven matches and scored the only goal of the semi-final against Germany – a header similar to his goal in the historic 2-6 victory in the Bernabeu.

Technical profile

Carles Puyol started off in the first team at right back but has since developed into a great central defender. He stands out for his tremendous fitness levels and his discipline on the pitch. He's a perfect example of a team player and he never over-complicates the job when he has to cut off an opposing attacking move.

He can also adapt to the left back position when circumstances dictate. Although he is not particularly tall (178 cm), his physical strength makes him very strong in the air and he is capable of man-marking opposing forwards who are taller than him. He also likes to get up in attack, especially for corners and free kicks.

More than anything else, Carles Puyol is a reference point for the rest of the squad due to his character and qualities of leadership and because of his pride in the Barca colours and his total identification with the Club.

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/football/first-team/staff/players/puyol/biography

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~ Honours

- Tercera División : (1) 1997-98 [Barcelona Atlètic]
- Spanish League (5): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11
- Spanish Cup (1): 2008–09; Runner-up 2010–11
- Spanish Supercup (5): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011
- UEFA Champions League (3): 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
- UEFA Super Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
- FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006

`Country- FIFA World Cup: 2010
- UEFA European Football Championship: 2008
- Summer Olympics: Silver medal 2000
- FIFA Confederations Cup: Third-place 2009

`Individual
- Don Balón Award – Breakthrough player of the year: 2001
- Best European Defender: 2004, 2005, 2009
- Best FIFA Defender: 2005, 2007
- ESM Team of the Year: 2001–02, 2010
- UEFA Club Best Defender: 2006
- FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008, 2010
- UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament[20]
- FIFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010
- 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Team of the Tournament
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2010

` Decorations
- Prince of Asturias Awards: 2010
- Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit: 2011

} Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carles_Puyol
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/carles-puyol/leistungsdaten/spieler_7594.html

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` Club information
- Number 5
- Youth career
Pobla de Segur (1993–1995)
Barcelona ( 1995–1996 )

~ Senior career
- Barcelona C |1996–1997|
- Barcelona B |1997-2000| 89 matches (6 goals)
- Barcelona | since 1999 - ? |

~ Stats at Barca's First Team
- Total: 530 matches, 10 goals
- La Liga: 355matches, 8 goals
- European Competitions: 119 matches, 2goals
- Copa del Rey: 42 matches
- Other (Spanish Super Cup, ClubsWorldCup ): 14 matches

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~ Stats for Spanish Nts
1995: Spain U18 | 3matches (0 goals)
2000: Spain U21 | 4 (0)
2000: Spain U23 | 5 (0)
(2000–?) : Spain | 98 (3)
(2001–?) : Catalonia | 5 (0)

~ International career:

Puyol won his first cap for Spain on 15 November 2000 against the Netherlands, and remained a regular fixture in the following years. He played for the nation at the 2000 Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 World Cup, Euro 2008, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 World Cup.

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Carles Puyol vs Real Madrid (1999-2011)



`Other Videos:

l ‎!!! Puyol Records !!!

~ #Puyol unbeaten in 47 matches [Previous EuropeanRecord for Gilberto Silva 43]

~ Pique and Puyol have played 55 League games together, and the balance is 46 wins and 9 draws.

BUMP. No need for new thread.

Shame that Puyi unbeaten streak ended in Osasuna loss.

Can you not bump threads please, for the 2nd time of asking.

Me and Kizz are communicating in term of creating new threads where we deem needed. Your interferance isnt doing anything but causing grief.

Sorry, I now read a PM, I will stop bumping threads. Don't be mmkay?



His unbeaten streak ended at 56 games. I think this record won't be beaten for a long time.

Barça would like to extend Puyol's contract (currently it expires in 2013) until 2014 [+1 year depending on matches played]. || Xavi already has a contract until1 2014 [+2 years depending on playing time].

Both Puyol and Xavi believe they can play until they are 40 like Maldini.

I'd welcome Puyol until 2014 or maybe even later, I just hope they don't let themselves go at a certain age like some Brazilian players.

Wont ever happen, you see Puyol without a shirt? lol

I hope he can go, but I am worried. He is making more errors than before and he hasnt got the same recovery speed.

I hope he doesnt mind being like 4th choice and only in dire situations by the time he gets towards 40.

Our Maldini and Zaneti…. Legend in his own right

Cristiano apparently celebrated the win over CSKA with Puyol's ex. Will make for a spicier clasico

BarrileteCosmico wrote:

Cristiano apparently celebrated the win over CSKA with Puyol's ex. Will make for a spicier clasico

Damn... that chick had a kind of cute, innocent hotness which went will with Puyi. While Cristiano's ex just seemed arrogant like him.

Mario Balotelli's girlfriend, Raffaella Fico, has said that her current boyfriend is superior in the bedroom to her previous acquaintance Cristiano Ronaldo.

In an interview with Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport the former Italian Big Brother contestant spoke of her relationship with the Portuguese footballer "I lost my virginity to Ronaldo and I'm happy about it. We had a wonderful time for eleven months."

Then when asked which of the footballers was best in bed, Raffaella answered "Mario, lot better."

El Capita de las cavernas?....I like it better.

Of course, Mario is black

Nameless wrote:Guess who

Noooooooooooooooooooo!

Shaved his head... If it was for pleasure I would be annoyed but if for charity I would feel so happy as he is looking out for others for need more needs than himself

Hahahaha.... oh no!!! Its both funny and sad. David Luiz, now Puyol!!! 2 of the great hairs of our game


RIP!

BarrileteCosmico wrote:
Noooooooooooooooooooo!

I'm calling fake

He looks a lot younger like that, people won't know who they are passing to on the football pitch.

BarrileteCosmico wrote:

Nameless wrote:Guess who

Noooooooooooooooooooo!

Very old fake.

Its a fake lol, infact Its puyol with Valdez haircut.

Madrid fan on Twitter: @Jesus19moreno: @Carles5puyol muerete catalan hijo de puta ! Ojala no pases de hoy cabron ! #QueVivaEspaña #Oléeeeeee"

Puyol replied: gràcies!!!

Some people are really stupid. Wishing someone death on Twitter

matpol wrote:Madrid fan on Twitter: @Jesus19moreno: @Carles5puyol muerete catalan hijo de puta ! Ojala no pases de hoy cabron ! #QueVivaEspaña #Oléeeeeee"

Puyol replied: gràcies!!!

Some people are really stupid. Wishing someone death on Twitter

Class response. Dude got dominated lol

it's a typical Moudrid fans what can you expect
troll

barcastuff ‏@barcastuff

Puyol, who's recovering from a dislocated elbow since 2 October, can already do push-ups and could be available to play soon.