Carles Puyol is undoubtedly the most prolific captain for Barcelona. Who can forget the time he stopped a certain goal with his chest against Lokomotiv Moscow in 2002, or the time he asked Ronaldinho to take a picture with the Barca squad even though the Brazilian had moved to AC Milan. Puyol was a strong-headed, loyal person, on the field and off the field.
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The player who almost missed out on being recognized in his early days could have easily been picked up by another team. However, the player loved the Catalan side and he knew that the Catalan Kings was the club for him. The player gave out his heart and soul for the club and he brought them out of a terrible phase along with Ronaldinho.
With 36 injuries to prove his loyalty to the club, Carles Puyol will always be in the heart of every Barcelona fan even though he is no longer involved with the club. The defender made it to the first team when the club was in a financial mess and Real Madrid were picking up La Ligas as well as UEFA Champions Leagues. However, by the time he left, Barcelona picked up three UCLs, as well as six La Liga titles.
He was a fighter and a leader and he brought Barcelona back to the grandest of stages. He won all the trophies in club football as well as international football. However, his start was not an easy one, and he had to sacrifice a lot to reach the levels he eventually did. This is a tribute to one of the best captains in the world, inspired by Soccer Stories – Oh My Goal video, and it will show just how he went from being a goalkeeper for his hometown club to being the captain of one of the best clubs in the world.
#1 Versatility and Ability to Adapt
The former Barcelona captain and forever legend was not always a strong and hearty center-back. In his youth days, the player used to play as a goalkeeper for his hometown side. From what it is heard, he was a fantastic keeper as well, however, he was forced to change his position after he developed back problems from playing as a keeper. He changed his position drastically and became a striker. Yes, that is correct, he went straight from being a goalkeeper to a striker. When he signed for La Masia in 1995, he was originally started as a right-winger but was then shifted to a deeper role in the midfield.
His true talent and abilities were uncovered while he was playing in those deeper defensive roles and he started playing as a right-back in the Barca B team. He was later changed into a center-back by Louis van Gaal however, he had the potential of being able to play anywhere on the field. Carles Puyol had a deep love for football and he was ready to adapt to the needs of the team, that’s why he was named the best right-back by UEFA in 2002.
#2 Fierce Loyalty to Barcelona
Not only was Carles Puyol one of Barcelona’s greatest players, he was also one of the most loyal players. Loyalty to a club is a fleeting attribute in modern football and players want to play for the best teams in the world to win trophies. While some leave due to wages, and some leave for furthering their career, it is becoming increasingly rare for a player to stay loyal to a single club.
Puyol was different, even though the Barca board at that time was bringing in new players, and not paying attention to the academy, the player stayed on. Even at the age of 20, the player was stuck in the B team but he still did not lose faith. It was his dream to play for the Catalans and he did not want to leave the club.
Malaga even tried to sign the youngster in 1998, but the player rejected it as he saw Xavi Hernandez making it into the first team. This gave him confidence and he stayed on at the club, eventually making his debut in 1999. Although he made his debut when he was 21, he did not win his first major trophy till the age of 27.
During this period of trophy drought, the player wanted to taste some glory and he was pursued by Sir Alex Ferguson as well as AC Milan. Both would be brilliant options for Puyol if he wanted to win trophies, however, for him loyalty was always first. He rejected the two offers and went on to win two major trophies in the 2004/05 season.
#3 A Leader On and Off the Pitch
Carles Puyol was not only a leader on the pitch, dictating the rhythm of the game, he was also a compassionate human being off the pitch. He was stern with his team while playing matches however, his understanding nature made him an overall gentleman. One instance of his selflessness was seen during the 2011 UCL finals. Barcelona won the cup at Wembley by beating Manchester United 3-1. It was going to be Puyol’s final UCL trophy and even though the Spanish player knew that it was a possibility, he made an unforgettable gesture that night.
One of Barcelona’s players, Eric Abidal, had fought against cancer that year and made a remarkable recovery to come back to the pitch. Puyol knew the amount of hard work and torment Abidal went through and thus he let Abidal lift the UCL trophy even though it is traditionally lifted by the captain. It was a moment that Abidal will never forget and he has often talked about this gesture in interviews later on.
This was not one isolated incident either, he was always showing respect to his teammates and even to his opponents. He would stop his teammates from over-celebrating however, he would also be the first one to help them off the pitch. When Ronaldinho was imprisoned, Puyol was on the phone to keep him positive and motivated, when Samuel Eto and Ronaldinho had a fight, the club captain was the one who defused the situation. This showed the world that not only was he a leader on the pitch, but he was also a leader off the pitch.
#4 Focus and Determination
Carles Puyol was one of the generational defenders and he can be named next to the likes of Paolo Maldini and Bobby Moore. Although the player had immense talent and he trained himself to become one of the bests, he never lost his focus during a game. Gerard Pique said in an interview that Puyol would often scold him if he ventured away from his position too much, or if he was not concentrating enough.
Puyol would always be one hundred percent focused and would always give his all. By the end, he had sustained 36 injuries and finally quit football in 2014 although he had two years left on his contract. He resigned from professional football as he felt that he was not doing justice to his team. With all the injuries and surgeries, he was left tired and fragile, and this was not how he wanted to play. For him it was, give it your all or don’t play at all. He always gave it his all for Barcelona and he parted ways with the club he loved on good terms. His mental determination and focus definitely helped him to become the legend he is today.
#5 Hard Work and Perseverance
While some players are born with amazing talents and some players have luck on their side, Carles Puyol was one of the players who worked extremely hard to get what he wanted. He was not a natural talent however, his willingness to adapt and work made him the best in every position that he played in. He started as a goalkeeper and then went on to become a striker. He broke records as a striker but was then transformed into a right back. After that he finally settled down as a center-back however, all this transformation took hard work, and that Puyol was ready to do.
It came from his own father’s mentality, the middle-class family man always worked and made sure that his son would also give it his best and not do a half-hearted job. Puyol fought through injuries and surgeries to continue playing for Barcelona and all of his hard work, selflessness, and perseverance was finally awarded in 2010. Puyol had led his team into the FIFA World Cup semi-finals against Germany.
The Germans had a strong defense and were not allowing the likes of Fernando Torres, David Villa, and Xavi to score. Puyol took matters into his own hands and in the 73rd minute, scored a towering header to propel the Spaniards into the finals. Not only did the defender stop a very dangerous German side, but he also scored the winning goal and at the end of the campaign, lifted the world cup.
Puyol’s story is one of hard work and determination, he had to give tryouts for Barca multiple times, and even after he was selected for La Masia, there were no guarantees that he would make the main team. However, he never let his mind stray away from his goal and he persisted till he won everything there was to win in club football, as well as international football.
What’s your favorite memory of Carles Puyol?