Carles Puyol

Name:Carles Puyol i Saforcada
Birth Of Date:13 April 1978(age 35)
Birth Place:Spain
Height:1.78 M(5 FT 10 IN)
Position:Defender
Team:FC Barcelona

Carles Puyol Saforcada (born April 13, 1978 in La Pobla de Segur, Lleida, Catalonia) is a Catalan Spanish footballer who is the current team captain of FC Barcelona. He has established himself as one of the best defenders in world football and is a regular in the Spanish national team.

Puyol is a tough, aggressive defender who has the versatility to play both as a full-back and in the centre. His holistic approach makes him a favourite at his club side, Barcelona. Puyol is a vital member of Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard’s team, and his tactical ability and know-how also means he is not a man to pick up many yellow cards or, indeed, injuries, both of which factors have meant that he is an ever present in both Europe and domestic competition. His attacking mentality is a result of him playing as a striker in the early years in his boyhood club La Pobla de Segur, after injury problems with his shoulders forced him from his original position of goalkeeper.

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 Catalan football team in one unofficial friendly.

Carles Puyol 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 2 November 1999 against Valladolid, a game FC Barcelona won 0-2. He started as a regular for Barcelona in the right back position but has very successfully converted to center-back, and is now regarded as one of the top center-backs in the world.

He was first chosen as the captain for Barcelona in the 2003-04 season. In the absence of Raul due to injury, 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.