FCBARCELONA.CAT

02.10.2009 10:48

Puyol celebrates ten years with Barça

Marc Guillén

Carles Puyol celebrated ten years since he made his first team debut against Real Valladolid on Friday and can look back at a glorious decade littered with trophies and the captain's armband.

After a difficult summer it was not clear whether the young defender would be given a chance, but coach Louis van Gaal chose to promote him and he went on to make 37 appearances in that first campaign and become a regular fixture in the side.

Captaincy and trophies

Puyol spent five seasons playing at the highest level without the club winning a major trophy, but when Frank Rijkaard arrived he was made club captain and things began to improve for him even more. Since then he has lifted silverware on a regular basis and won three league titles, the Champions League twice and the Copa del Rey, as well the Super Cups.

Outstanding moments

As well as the images of Puyol lifting trophies above his head, there are two outstanding memories of his first ten years with the first being th man-marking job that he did on Luis Figo when the Portuguese returned to Camp Nou for the first time in Real Madrid colours in 2000. The second was in Europe against lokomotiv when he saved a certain goal with his chest after the keeper had been beaten.

Injury record

With 448 official games under his belt, Puyol has rarely been injured and has not been rested on a regular basis due to his importance at the back for the Blaugrana. Famed for being able to battle back early from knocks, the defender is the consumate professional and always looks after himself both on and off the field.

Seven goals

During his ten years in the first team Puyo has scored seven times and no goal was more important than the header he slammed past Iker Casillas last season in the monumental 2-6 win against Real Madrid in the Santiago Bernabéu. Despite not being very tall at 1.78 metres, he is strong in the air in both penalty areas.

Having played all across the back four, the captain plays most regularly in the centre of the defence although Pep Guardiola is able to use him on the right when necessary.