Carles Puyol i Saforcada (born April 13, 1978 in La Pobla de Segur, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain) is a Spanish footballer who is the current team captain of FC Barcelona. He is a regular in the Spanish national team.
Puyol started playing football in his hometown club, La Pobla de Segur, as a striker after injury problems with his shoulders forced him from his original position of goalkeeper. He went to FC Barcelona B at age 17 in 1996, and in 1999 coach Louis van Gaal promoted him to the first team. His debut occurred on October 2, 1999 against Real Valladolid, a game Barcelona won 0-2. He started in the right-back position, but has since been converted to a central defender. He was awarded "Best European right-back" award by UEFA in 2002.
Puyol was first chosen as the captain of FC Barcelona at the end of 2003-04 season and has also been called upon to captain the Spanish national team.
On May 17, 2006, Barcelona, with Puyol as captain, won the UEFA Champions League, defeating Arsenal 2-1 in the final, becoming the first Catalan captain to raise that trophy. Puyol won the UEFA Champions League defender of the year award for that season.
Puyol started playing football in his hometown club, La Pobla de Segur, as a striker after injury problems with his shoulders forced him from his original position of goalkeeper. He went to FC Barcelona B at age 17 in 1996, and in 1999 coach Louis van Gaal promoted him to the first team. His debut occurred on October 2, 1999 against Real Valladolid, a game Barcelona won 0-2. He started in the right-back position, but has since been converted to a central defender. He was awarded "Best European right-back" award by UEFA in 2002.
Puyol was first chosen as the captain of FC Barcelona at the end of 2003-04 season and has also been called upon to captain the Spanish national team.
On May 17, 2006, Barcelona, with Puyol as captain, won the UEFA Champions League, defeating Arsenal 2-1 in the final, becoming the first Catalan captain to raise that trophy. Puyol won the UEFA Champions League defender of the year award for that season.