A proper Renaissance man, Puyol -standing at a miserly 5 ft 10 in- defined what a modern footballer needs to be and do. Starting out as a goalkeeper, he morphed to a striker, changed over to become a midfielder, decided to try his legs at the flanks before finally settling on being a central defender. The only position Puyol failed to take up on the pitch was that of a referee!

For a player who won his first trophy when he was already 26 years, many would have thought that perhaps, he was never going to be a top player. But Puyol is nothing but a football gladiator.

Like many, his parents were skeptical during his early days when he took up football. They encouraged him to study rather than football; most especially when he injured his shoulder as a young goalkeeper in Catalonia but Puyol was going to remain steadfast and true to his cause.

The little step of what has been a very intriguing success story was made back in 1995 when he joined Barcelona’s youth team at La Masia. Puyol has never been faced with difficulties or the constant changes in football as he had to change his role to a defensive player only for that to change two years later when he graduated to the B- team, this time switching to the right back position. Dutch coach, Louis Van Gaal in 1999 paved the way for Puyol with promotion to the first team making his La Liga debut in a 2-0 win against Real Valladolid. Soon afterwards, he made another transition, this time as a central defender, the position that will eventually win him laurels with distinction.

In 2004, a season after the interest of Manchester United didn’t come to fruition, Puyol was named club captain due to the retirement of Luis Enrique and it was from there that his career took a notable turn as the flurry of trophies, personal accolades -for both club and country- started coming in a rush. Perhaps most notably would be his involvement in the Six-trophy haul in Pep Guardiola’s first full season in charge of Barcelona.

He was also part of a very successful Spanish national team squad that made history when they ended the country’s 46-year wait for a major title when they defeated Germany in Vienna. He formed a solid defensive partnership with Carlos Marchena of Valencia as Spain conceded only two goals en route to glory land. At the 2010 World cup in South Africa, Puyol once again showed real leadership on the pitch when he score the La Furia Roja’s lone goal in the semi-final match against a formidable foe, the Germans before claiming their first ever FIFA World cup trophy with a 1-0 victory over the Orange boys of Netherland.

Puyol won 21 major titles with Barcelona, notably Six La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions league titles, two FIFA World Club Cups but his most laudable show of leadership is perhaps the gesture shown towards Eric Abidal to lift the champions league cup in his stead at the 2011 Wembley final after the French player recovered from a Cancer surgery to play in the win over Manchester United.

The Barcelona captain has announced his intentions to leave the club, the only one he has played for and captained for the best part of a decade when the 2013/14 season ends. A centenarian with Spain (with three goals), La Liga Breakthrough Player of 2001, ESM Team of the Year member on four occasions, UEFA Team of the Year member on six occasions, UEFA club defender in 2006, FIFA/FIFpro World XI on three occasions, member of UEFA Euro 2008 and 2009 Confederations Cup team of the Tournament and, member FIFA World Cup All-Star Team 2010,   a storied career has come full circle.

Throughout a very illustrious career for the Catalan club, Puyol has truly served, worshipped, and held in high esteem.

All the best is wished him.

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About the author
Oderinde Olufemi
Editor at @Vavel_Nigeria. Jamz 101.1 FM Presenter. Reporter. Producer. Writer. Football Pundit.Voice Over Artist. 2009 Radio Personality Award Recipient (University of Ibadan).