|
|
Carles Puyol i Saforcada is a Spanish/Catalan footballer who is the current team captain of FC Barcelona. He is a regular in the Spanish national team.
Puyol played for Spain at the 2000 Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2004 and the 2006 FIFA World Cup; Puyol has been capped over 60 times. He has also played for the unofficial Catalonia national football team in one friendly.
He went to FC Barcelona B at age 17 in 1996 and in 1999 Coach Louis van Gaal put him into the first team and his debut came on October 2, 1999 against Valladolid, a game FC Barcelona won 0-2. He started as a regular for Barcelona in the right back position but has since converted to center-back.
He was first chosen as the captain for Barcelona in the 2003-04 season. Puyol has also been called upon to captain the Spanish national team.
May 17, 2006: Barcelona, with Puyol as captain, won the UEFA Champions League, defeating Arsenal FC 2-1 in the final and became the first Catalan captain to raise the UEFA Champions League Trophy.
He was awarded "Best Right-Back in Europe" by UEFA in 2002. He is currently under contract with Barcelona FC till June 30, 2010.
Puyol was awarded the title of UEFA Champions League Defender of the Year 2005-06 on Thursday 24th August 2006.
|
|