Carles Puyol Saforcada (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈkaɾles puˈjɔl safoɾˈkaða]; born 13 April 1978) is a Spanish former professional footballer who played his entire career for Barcelona. He mainly played as a central defender, but he could also play in either full-back position, mostly as a right-back. Praised for his defensive qualities and leadership, he is widely regarded as one of the best defenders and captains of all time. Puyol's abilities and prowess on the field earned him the nickname of "El Tiburón" ("The Shark") by teammates and fans.
