Complete Name: Carles Puyol Saforcada
Birthplace: La Pobla de Segur -Lleida- (Catalonia)
Birthday: April 13 1978
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 80 Kg
Nickname: PUYOL
Carles Puyol biography
Carles Puyol i Saforcada (; born 13 April 1978) is a Spain Association footballer who plays for FC Barcelona and the Spain national football team.
Mainly a Defender (association football) Centre back, Carles Puyol can also appear on Defender (association football) Full back, especially as a right back. Carles Puyol also serves as a longtime Captain (association football) for Carles Puyol only club FC Barcelona after taking over from Luis Enrique Martínez García in August 2004.
Club career
Early years
Born in La Pobla de Segur, Province of Lleida, Catalonia, Puyol started playing football for Carles Puyol hometown club, as a Goalkeeper (association football). However, after injury problems with Carles Puyol shoulder, Carles Puyol switched to Forward (association football). Puyol has said that in Carles Puyol youth, "My parents were skeptical about me becoming a footballer and encouraged me to study." but no move ever materialized; two years later, the player extended Carles Puyol contract for a further five seasons. Puyol was named Captain (association football) at the end of the 2003–04 La Liga, after the retirement of Luis Enrique Martínez García.Carles Puyol continued to be a defensive cornerstone for Barça, being awarded the "Best European right back" award by UEFA in 2002 and "Best European centre back" in 2005, 2006 and 2008, as well as receiving the "UEFA Club Best Defender" trophy in 2006. Puyol helped the FC Barcelona win an impressive two consecutive league titles in the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons. In 2005-2006, Puyol helped FC Barcelona win its second 2005–06 UEFA Champions League title, 14 years after the first.
2008-present
On 16 September 2008, Puyol made Carles Puyol 400th appearance in all competitions for Barças first team in the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League match against Sporting Clube de Portugal. In the 2008–09 La Liga, the Barça captain dealt with injury problems, but still contributed to the team by appearing in 28 matches and helped to win another league title, Carles Puyol only goal coming in El Clásico at Real Madrid C.F. on 2 May 2009, which finished with a resounding 6–2 away win; from 2008–10 combined, other than the two league titles, Carles Puyol was essential in conquering the 2009 UEFA Super Cup, the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final and the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, appearing in nearly 100 official matches. Puyol describes Barça as "the team who every Catalan child wants to play for... I am living the dream playing football for Barça and it is my dream to retire playing here ."). Carles Puyol scored the only goal in the semifinal against Germany national football team with a powerful header from a corner taken by Barcelona teammate Xavi, sending the national team through to their first FIFA World Cup 2010 FIFA World Cup Final, and scoring Carles Puyol third international goal in 89 matches. In the final, Carles Puyol played the full 120 minutes, as Spain defeated the Netherlands 1–0 .
On 1 August 2010, Puyol announced that Carles Puyol would continue to play for the national team for at least another two years.
Playing style
Puyol is known for Carles Puyol intense commitment and ruggedness as a defender. According to Barcelona's head doctor, Puyol is "the strongest, who has the quickest reactions, and who has the most explosive strength." Club fans refer to Carles Puyol as "The Wall".. Middle Eastern fans call Carles Puyol "Lion's heart".Carles Puyol is also known by some fans in the UK as "Sir Charles". Miguel Ángel Nadal, who played with Carles Puyol for a short period of time, said, "Carles plays with maturity, has great positional sense, and above all, has pride in Carles Puyol shirt ." Carles Puyol said in 2010, "I don't have Romário's technique, Marc Marc Overmars' pace or Patrick Patrick Kluivert's strength. But I work harder than the others. I'm like the student who is not as clever, but revises for Carles Puyol exams and does OK in the end." Another former team mate said, "Even four goals down Carles Puyol thinks we can still win."
International statistics
(4): 2004–05 La Liga, 2005–06 La Liga, 2008–09 La Liga, 2009–10 La Liga
- Copa del Rey (1): 2008–09 Copa del Rey
- Supercopa de España (4): 2005 Supercopa de España, 2006 Supercopa de España, 2009 Supercopa de España, 2010 Supercopa de España
- UEFA Champions League (2): 2005–06 UEFA Champions League, 2008–09 UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Super Cup (1): 2009 UEFA Super Cup
- FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2009 FIFA Club World Cup
Nation
- FIFA World Cup: 2010 FIFA World Cup Final
- UEFA European Football Championship: UEFA Euro 2008 Final
- Summer Olympic Games: Silver medal Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics
- FIFA Confederations Cup: Third-place 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
Individual
- Don Balón Award – Breakthrough player of the year: 2001
- European Sports Magazines: 2001-02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06
- UEFA Team of the Year: UEFA Team of the Year Team of the Year 2002, UEFA Team of the Year Team of the Year 2005, UEFA Team of the Year Team of the Year 2006, UEFA Team of the Year Team of the Year 2008, UEFA Team of the Year Team of the Year 2009, UEFA Team of the Year Team of the Year 2010
- UEFA Club Football Awards: 2006
- FIFPro: 2007, 2008, 2010
- UEFA Euro 2008 Awards
- FIFA: 2008
- 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Awards
- FIFA_World_Cup_awards All-Star_Team: 2010 FIFA World Cup
Personal life
In 2006, Puyol said that when not working, Carles Puyol leads "a very quiet life... I've not been to a nightclub in Barcelona for years either. When I go out, I stay in a restaurant with my friends." Carles Puyol practices yoga and Pilates, and according to a friend is highly interested in Tibetan Buddhism and culture. Puyol met the Dalai Lama in 2007.
Carles Puyol father, Josep Puyol, died in a farming accident in 2006 while Carles was on Carles Puyol way to play a match against Deportivo de La Coruña. Carles Puyol was informed by coach Frank Rijkaard upon landing ". Carles Puyol has said that this combined with an injury led to a dark period. Spanish National Team physio, Raúl Martínez, came to Barcelona and in Carles' words "gave me a great telling off. Carles Puyol made me react, and I began to try to be more cheerful, and not overwhelmed by it all."
In 2009, Puyol told Goal.com: "I do not like to go out much, although it is good to disconnect and I like to read." Carles Puyol musical tastes include the band Napalm Death.Carles Puyol also owns a sheep named Queca.
Puyol's long shaggy hair has been a distinctive feature throughout Carles Puyol career. Louis van Gaal, who at the time was the FC Barcelona coach, suggested Carles Puyol get it cut when Puyol was 19, Van Gaal had already made clear Carles Puyol feelings about Puyol when, after Carles Puyol first training session with the senior players, Carles Puyol called the defender, then 19, into Carles Puyol office. "What's your problem, can't you afford the money for a haircut?" Van Gaal asked him. "I said nothing," Puyol remembered, "and to this day have kept my hair as it is.".
He's been in a relationship with Spanish model (person) Malena Costa since September 2010. They were first seen together in an Alejandro Sanz concert in Barcelona, a month later Puyol confirmed the relationship on October 16, 2010 at Camp Nou dedicating Carles Puyol winning header against Valencia CF (2-1), by making a heart symbol with both hands. “I dedicate the goal to my girlfriend,” said Puyol after the game. On November 5 they made their first public appearance at the Cirque du Soleil’s show ‘Varekai’ in Barcelona. They have been rumored to have planned a wedding but Puyol immediately denied such stories.
Girlfriend Status
He's been in a relationship with Spanish model Malena Costa since September 2010.They were first seen together in an Alejandro Sanz concert in Barcelona, a month later Puyol confirmed the relationship on October 16, 2010 at Camp Nou dedicating his winning header against Valencia CF (2-1), by making a heart symbol with both hands. “I dedicate the goal to my girlfriend,” said Puyol after the game. On November 5 they made their first public appearance at the Cirque du Soleil’s show ‘Varekai’ in Barcelona.They have been rumored to have planned a wedding but Puyol immediately denied such stories.
