Premiere, The first championship, the wonderful goal in Bernabeu and the gesture to Eric Abidal. Barcelona's legendary captain announced that the current season would be his last in Barcelona, I collected for you the greatest magic moments
Behind him was not less than 593 games with the same shirt and the same love, Carles Puyol announced that the current season would be his last in Barcelona.
The oldest defender was used as the captain of the Spanish champions in her best time, during which became one of the greatest teams in history, and earned media no less than 21 titles, including six league Spain titles and three Champions League cups.
For this occasion I gathered for you the best moments of Barcelona's defender Carles Puyol:
Premiere in front of Valladolid
On October 2, 1999 Barcelona was hosted at Valladolid in Nuevo Syria. Then-coach Louis van Gaal, put in Puyol after 55 minutes at the expense of Simao Sbrosh. The boy with number 32 on the back, deposited then as a right midfielder and made a successful debut, when the Catalans came home with three points after a smooth 0:2.
Neutralization of Figo
On October 21, 2000, a year later, came the great Real Madrid to boiling Classico on the Camp Nou. This was the first time Luis Figo step on the grass at Barcelona since moving into the ranks of the Balkons. Young Puyol in a great performance, completely neutralized the frustrated Portuguese and that capture the fans attention. This was a turning point in the career of the Spanish defender, which has since become a permanent play composition.
First season as captain
From an early age, it was the hard to appeal Puyol's leadership. In 2003 he served as the team's third captain, and in 2004 received from Frank Rijkaard the reins and became the undisputed leader of Barcelona. The rest, as we say, is history.
The first championship
The first season of the Barcelona captain Puyol was also his first championship season in the first team. The Catalans finished the 2004-05 season in first place after four years without a championship, and that was just the appetizer.
First winning the Champions League
2005-06 season was even greater for Puyol, who lifted the Barcelona's second Champions Cup after the great 1:2 vs Arsenal in Stade de France. This was also the completion of a double for the Catalans, who managed to keep the championship title.
The goal against Real at Bernabeu (2:6)
On May 2, 2009 Barcelona go out at Santiago Bernabéu for a Classico, which in Catalonia never forget in the next coming years. Barca, with Pep Guardiola on the lines, register historical and hysterical 2:6, which considered one of the greatest triumphs in the history of Classico meetings, perhaps the greatest. Puyol then scored the second goal of the game and completed the Catalans quick makeover already in the 20th minute. Barca won that season with no fewer than six titles, and has made it clear to everyone that Guardiola's Barcelona is going to be one of the biggest global football known.
The exciting gesture to Eric Abidal
The moment that will define the nature of Carles Puyol in the best way is undoubtedly the swing moment of his third Champions Cup on May 28, 2011. Barca beat then 1:3 Manchester United and legendary captain decided, in especial and exciting step to honor the tremendous moment to Eric Abidal, who against all odds come back to play after recovering from liver cancer.
It was a bright moment who display in light the image of one of the greatest symbols Barcelona seen, perhaps the greatest leader ever known. In Catalonia already missing, and you?
Andrew Gray