Carles Puyol

My tribute to The Wall

     

     Wearing a half-sleeve jersey even on the coldest champions league away night, screaming at the top of his voice, giving nightmares to strikers even when they were in their prime and blasting speed that would take your breath away , that was what Puyol was.

     Puyol has played for Barca for 20 years if you also count his youth days at the club. All these years some thing besides values like commitment, hard work and passion has been an integral part of  Puyol’s career and that is his hairstyle. He hasn’t changed it up till now. It is a reason that contributed to fans calling him “Tarzan” or “Caveman”. Although it was just a small part the main contribution to the names was his heroics and constant runs on the right wing. Before turning into a solid centre back Puyol was a right back, and before that in the youth team he played as right winger, but when he came in the senior team under Louis Van Gaal he started playing as a right back.

     Puyol is famous as “Braveheart” not only among Barca fans but also among football fans for his commitment, hard work, dedication and passion. He discredited the notion that only strikers take all the credit. Everyone remembers the 2010 World Cup semi-final against Germany where Puyol rose above Pique and headed the ball into goal through a box full of German defenders to send Spain cruising into final. One of the fondest memories of all the Cules is the save by Puyol against Lokomotiv in 2002, the goal keeper was not in the box, the goal was open, it was certain that the striker would score goal the striker himself was sure about this but only to his dismay as Puyol saved the goal using his chest. The ball actually seemed to hit the crest on his jersey and bounced to safety. As expected, Camp Nou was applauding and celebrating as if it was a goal, to be truthful it was nonetheless than one.

     Puyol is famous for keeping the squad together. No matter what the score is, even if Bacra is leading by 3 goals he will shout at the top of his voice on a player who would lose focus. He was never complacent. He always gave his best no matter what the situation.

     Most of all beyond being a great player, Puyol was humble. Many fans like to call him “Lionheart”. He stopped Thiago and Alves form celebrating against Rayo as it was insulting to the opposition. He let Abidal pick up the European Cup in his place in 2012 as the defender had returned from Cancer problems. He let Tito and Abidal lift the La liga cup in 2013 as both of them had returned from cancer treatments. He is the only captain to have lifted all major trophies in a year that his team has played for, lifting 6 trophies in 2008-09 season under Guardiola.

     Puyol was an integral part of Barca. It will be difficult for the club to fill the void that he leaves behind, but it will be more intricate for the fans who are so used to see their captain fantastic on the pitch giving his best all the time.