Carles Puyol facts for kids
Puyol at the 2020 Goya Awards
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Carles Puyol Saforcada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 13 April 1978 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | La Pobla de Segur, Spain | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1995 | Pobla de Segur | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | Barcelona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Barcelona C | 1 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Barcelona B | 89 | (6) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2014 | Barcelona | 392 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 482 | (19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Spain U18 | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Spain U21 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000 | Spain U23 | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2013 | Spain | 100 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2013 | Catalonia | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carles Puyol Saforcada (born 13 April 1978) is a Spanish football legend who played his entire professional career for Barcelona. He is known as one of the greatest defenders and captains in the history of football. Puyol mostly played as a centre-back, a key defensive position, but he was skilled enough to play as a full-back on either side of the field.
Because of his tough defending and leadership, fans and teammates called him "El Tiburón" (The Shark). Puyol was Barcelona's captain from 2004 until he retired in 2014. During his time with the club, he played in 593 official matches and won 18 major trophies, including six La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues.
Puyol also played 100 times for the Spain. He was a key player on the teams that won the 2008 European Championship and the 2010 World Cup. In the 2010 World Cup semi-final, he scored the winning goal against Germany with a powerful header.
Contents
Club Career with FC Barcelona
Carles Puyol was born in La Pobla de Segur, a town in Catalonia, Spain. He started playing football for his local team as a goalkeeper. However, he had to switch positions to a forward after injuring his shoulder. His parents wanted him to focus on his studies instead of football.
In 1995, he joined FC Barcelona's famous youth academy, La Masia. There, he changed positions again, this time to a defensive midfielder. By 1997, he was playing for Barcelona's B-team as a right-back.
Joining the First Team
In 1999, manager Louis van Gaal brought Puyol up to the main team. He played his first La Liga game on 2 October 1999, against Real Valladolid. Soon after, he settled into his final position as a central defender.
Puyol quickly became a vital player for Barcelona. After the 2003–04 season, he was named the new team captain. He led the team to win two league titles in a row. In the 2005–06 season, he played in 52 games, including the Champions League final, where Barcelona beat Arsenal.
A Legendary Captain
Puyol was famous for his passion. On 2 May 2009, he scored a goal against rivals Real Madrid in a huge 6–2 victory. He celebrated by kissing his Catalan flag captain's armband. That year, Barcelona won six trophies, a historic achievement known as the "sextuple."
On 13 November 2010, Puyol played his 500th game for Barcelona. He continued to be a key player, helping the team win another league title and the Champions League in 2011. In the final against Manchester United, he came on for the last few minutes of the 3–1 win.
Injuries and Retirement
In his later years, Puyol struggled with several knee injuries. He had multiple surgeries, which made it difficult for him to play at his best. On 2 March 2014, he scored a goal in a 4–1 win against Almería.
Just two days later, he announced he would leave Barcelona at the end of the season. He explained, "After my last two major operations, I find it is taking me a lot of effort to reach the level required here."
On 15 May 2014, Barcelona held a special farewell event for him. Teammates, coaches, and presidents gathered to honor his 15-year career with the first team. Puyol retired at the age of 36, having won 21 trophies with the only club he ever played for.
International Career with Spain
Puyol played his first game for the Spanish senior team on 15 November 2000. He became a regular player for his country, competing in many major tournaments. These included the 2002 World Cup, Euro 2008, and the 2010 World Cup.
European and World Champion
At Euro 2008, Puyol was a rock in Spain's defense. The team only allowed two goals in the five games he played. Spain won the tournament, and Puyol was named to the Team of the Tournament.
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the peak of his international career. In the semi-final against Germany, Puyol scored the only goal of the match. His powerful header from a corner kick sent Spain to their first-ever World Cup final. In the final, Spain defeated the Netherlands 1–0. Puyol played the entire game and was named to the World Cup's All-Star Team for his amazing performance.
Puyol played his 100th and final game for Spain on 6 February 2013. He retired from international football as a true legend.
Style of Play
Puyol is considered one of the best defenders of all time. He was a "no-nonsense" player, known for his strength in the air and his ability to read the game. He was incredibly committed and would throw himself into tackles to stop opponents. Fans called him "The Wall" because he was so hard to get past.
He was also a great leader. His teammate Gerard Piqué said that even if the team was winning 3–0, Puyol would still shout at you to keep you focused. Puyol was not as naturally skilled as some other players, but he made up for it with hard work. He once said, "I'm like the student who is not as clever, but revises for his exams and does OK in the end."
Even though he was known for his defending, he was also good with the ball at his feet. He often played alongside a more technical defender like Piqué, and their different styles made them a perfect pair for both Barcelona and Spain.
Personal Life
Puyol is famous for his long, shaggy hair, which he has had for his entire career. When he was 19, his first manager, Louis van Gaal, told him to get a haircut, but Puyol decided to keep his iconic look.
He leads a quiet life off the field. In 2006, his father, Josep, passed away in a farming accident. Puyol said this was a very difficult time for him, but he found the strength to keep going.
Puyol is in a relationship with Vanesa Lorenzo, and they have two daughters, Manuela (born in 2014) and María (born in 2016).
.jpg)
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona C | 1995–96 | Segunda División B | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Barcelona B | 1996–97 | Segunda División | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | |||
| 1997–98 | Segunda División B | 42 | 3 | — | — | — | 42 | 3 | ||||
| 1998–99 | Segunda División | 38 | 2 | — | — | — | 38 | 2 | ||||
| 1999–2000 | Segunda División B | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 89 | 6 | — | — | — | 89 | 6 | |||||
| Barcelona | 1999–2000 | La Liga | 24 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| 2000–01 | La Liga | 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | La Liga | 35 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 | — | 51 | 2 | ||
| 2002–03 | La Liga | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | — | 46 | 0 | ||
| 2003–04 | La Liga | 27 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | La Liga | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | — | 45 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | La Liga | 35 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 52 | 1 | |
| 2006–07 | La Liga | 35 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 55 | 2 | |
| 2007–08 | La Liga | 30 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 1 | — | 47 | 1 | ||
| 2008–09 | La Liga | 28 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | 45 | 1 | ||
| 2009–10 | La Liga | 32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 48 | 1 | |
| 2010–11 | La Liga | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| 2011–12 | La Liga | 26 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 5 | |
| 2012–13 | La Liga | 13 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
| 2013–14 | La Liga | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | |
| Total | 392 | 13 | 58 | 4 | 131 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 593 | 18 | ||
| Career totals | 482 | 19 | 58 | 4 | 131 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 683 | 24 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2000 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2009 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 14 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | 3 | |
- Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Puyol goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 April 2002 | Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland |  Northern Ireland |
4–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 11 October 2008 | A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia |  Estonia |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 7 July 2010 | Moses Mabhida, Durban, South Africa |  Germany |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup |
Honours
Barcelona
- La Liga: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2012–13
- Copa del Rey: 2008–09, 2011–12
- Supercopa de España: 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010
- UEFA Champions League: 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
- UEFA Super Cup: 2009
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2009, 2011
Spain U23
- Summer Olympic silver medal: 2000
Spain
Individual
- La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2001
- ESM Team of the Year: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
- UEFA Club Best Defender: 2006
- FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2007, 2008, 2010
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2008
- FIFA Confederations Cup Team of the Tournament: 2009
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2010
- FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2010
- BBVA Fair Play award: 2011–12
- UEFA Ultimate Team of the Year (published 2015)
- World XI: Team of the 21st Century
- UEFA Euro All-time XI (published 2016)
- Golden Foot: 2016, as football legend
- One Club Man Award: 2018
Decorations
- Prince of Asturias Awards: 2010
- Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit: 2011
See also
In Spanish: Carles Puyol para niños
- List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
- List of one-club men in association football
