A Spanish international on 100 occasions, Puyol was part of the squads that won the Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup tournaments. In the latter competition's semifinal, he scored the only goal of the match against Germany.
In the year 1999, he made the first team courtsey Louis van Gaal and he made his La Liga debut on 2nd October in a 2_0 away win against Real Villadolid .
He announced earlier this season that he would be quitting football at the end of the season due to persistent knee injuries, there were speculations that he would take up a coaching position at the club or go play for other clubs, but he laid all the rumours to rest.
“I’ve won lots of titles but the most important thing is the human warmth and feeling I take from this club,” Puyol said of Barcelona at a press conference attended by the team and management. “I came here as a boy and I’m leaving with a family who I’m really proud of.”
“The one thing I have very clear is that I gave my absolute all for Barcelona and for football and I would like to be remembered as a player who did just that – who gave everything,”
He added that he does not wish at this time to get into coaching or managing, saying, ” I don’t think I’ll be a coach, it’s not what I’d like most. Maybe I’ll change my mind but for now I want to do other things.”
Club president Josep Bartomeu called Puyol “the best captain in the history of the club” and Lionel Messi said to his former teammate, “I’m lucky to have shared the dressing room with you.”
Watch the tribute video below:
He will be surely missed in the team.
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