Carles Puyol

Carles Puyol i Saforcada (born 13 April 1978) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He spent the majority of his career with Barcelona, where he is considered a club legend, and is currently the club's sporting director.

Puyol was born in La Pobla de Segur, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. He started his football career with local club Pobla de Segur, before joining Barcelona's youth academy La Masia at the age of 17. He made his first-team debut for Barcelona in 1999, and quickly established himself as a regular in the team. He won 18 major trophies with Barcelona, including six La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey titles, three UEFA Champions League titles, and two UEFA SuperCups. He also won the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Intertoto Cup once each.

Puyol made 100 appearances for the Spain national team, and was part of the squad that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships. He retired from international football in 2013.

Puyol is known for his leadership, determination, and defensive abilities. He is considered one of the greatest defenders of all time. He was named UEFA Club Defender of the Year three times, and was included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI four times. He was also named La Liga's Best Defender five times.

In 2015, Puyol was inducted into the Spanish Football Hall of Fame.

Early life

Carles Puyol was born on April 13, 1978, in the small town of La Pobla de Segur, in the Lleida province of Catalonia, Spain. He was the second of four children of Josep Puyol and Rosa Saforcada. Puyol's father was a construction worker and his mother was a housewife. Puyol grew up in a football-loving family, and he began playing the game at the age of six. He joined his local club, Pobla de Segur, at the age of eleven.

Club career

Puyol joined Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, at the age of seventeen. He quickly progressed through the ranks, and made his first-team debut on October 2, 1999, in a La Liga match against Real Valladolid. Puyol quickly established himself as a regular in the team, and he soon became known for his leadership, determination, and defensive abilities.

Puyol won his first major trophy with Barcelona in the 2004-05 season, when the team won the La Liga title. He went on to win six more La Liga titles with Barcelona, as well as three Copa del Rey titles, three UEFA Champions League titles, and two UEFA SuperCups. He also won the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Intertoto Cup once each.

Puyol retired from Barcelona at the end of the 2013-14 season. He made a total of 593 appearances for the club, scoring 18 goals.

International career

Puyol made his debut for the Spain national team in 2000. He was part of the squad that won the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and he also played in the 2006 and 2014 World Cups. Puyol also won the 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships with Spain. He retired from international football in 2013, after making 100 appearances for his country.

Coaching career

After retiring from playing, Puyol became a coach. He was appointed as the manager of Barcelona's B team in 2018. He was sacked from this position in 2020, after the team was relegated to the Segunda División B.

Personal life

Puyol married Vanesa Lorenzo, a Spanish model, in 2012. The couple have two daughters. Puyol is a devout Catholic.

Legacy

Puyol is considered one of the greatest defenders of all time. He was named UEFA Club Defender of the Year three times, and was included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI four times. He was also named La Liga's Best Defender five times.

In 2015, Puyol was inducted into the Spanish Football Hall of Fame.