As a defender Carles Puyol remains somewhat in the shadow of players such as Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o or Lionel Messi, but with his energy, stamina and focus, he remains a favourite in the Nou Camp and is an essential member of the current line-up. Considered to be one of the best defenders in the world, Carles Puyol is also the first Catalan captain to have held the Champions League Cup aloft after the team defeated Arsenal in May 2006, the competition in which he was awarded Defender of the Year.
As team captain since the 2003-2004 season after Phillip Cocu left Barcelona for PSV Eindhoven, Puyol’s stocky build with legs built like tree trunks and a trademark head of curly locks all belie his speed and agility on the pitch and once he removes his shirt he reveals a ripped torso that is the product of many hours of hard training, impressively fee of any sign of body fat.
Puyol is noted for his ferocious dedication to the club, a dedication that means that he is absolutely determined to play in every single match. This has seen him come into conflict with Frank Rijkarrd on occasion, as he even objects to being left out of the team to be rested when a number of tough matches are being played in a short space of time. He pushes himself hard, as he has often been spotted attending training sessions when he was due a rest day.
Carles Puyol is from a town in the interior of Cata lonia called La Pobla de Segur, where he was born in April 1978. As a boy he played for the local team before being signed to the Barcelona B team aged 17 and making his first team debut in 1999 against Valladolid, a match in which the visiting FC Barcelona managed to beat the home team 2-0.
Currently playing in the centre-back position, Puyol first played for Barcelona in the right back position when he was promoted from the B team. His original position as a boy was in goal, but when shoulder injuries prevented him from continuing he began to play as a striker, perhaps contributing to his attacking mentality today - you can only imagine what he would have been like as a goalkeeper given his absolute determination to stop the ball as a defender, but what is sure is that he would have played hard, perhaps contributing to his injuries.
Although he plays in the Spanish selection, which he has also captained on occasion, Carles Puyol is a Barcelona diehard through and through and it is difficult to imagine him playing for any other club when his contract expires in 2010, whatever offer was on the table. While Messi has been brought up at Barcelona – and there is no doubt about his current dedication to the club – it remains to be seen whether he could be lured away, but players such as Ronaldinho and Eto’o, whatever their brilliance, can only ever be considered hired hands.
The top 3 reasons to see FC Barcelona at the Nou Camp
That Futbol Club Barcelona is one of the top soccer teams in the world is beyond any doubt and so any serious sports fan should pay at least one visit in their life to see them play in their home stadium, the Nou Camp.
How to choose scuba diving equipment – selecting a scuba mask
When selecting a scuba mask it is essential that it fits your face well to ensure that it is both comfortable and leak free. Without a good seal against the face you may spend much of your time clearing the mask of water, while an uncomfortable mask detracts from your diving experience – both lead to enjoying your dives less but because they distract you from your environment they are also potentially unsafe.
Scuba Diving Equipment – an overview
Scuba diving equipment is designed to overcome the limits of human physiology in the submarine world and although the number of items may seem daunting to the beginner, everything has a clear purpose. Below we look at the main items of scuba diving equipment used in recreational diving.
