Catalan hero

Real Sociedad's player Russian Valery Karpin (C) vies with Barcelona's player Carles Puyol (R) 02 November 2003, during a Spanish soccer Liga match in the Anoeta stadium, in San Sebastian. AFP PHOTO / RAFA RIVAS

Barcelona's Spanish international defender Carles Puyol Saforcada, known simply as Puyol, is an outright hero with the Nou Camp faithful, playing the role of hometown boy come good.

Dutch coach Louis Van Gaal gave him his first team debut in October 1999 where a year later he earned accolades marking Luis Figo on his dramatic return to Barcelona after his transfer to Real Madrid.

Spaniard Carles Puyol (R) vies with Norwegian's Stephan Iversen (L) during a Euro 2004 first leg playoff match at Mestalla Stadium in Valencia 15 November 2003. Spain won 2-1. AFP PHOTO Javier SORIANO.

Barcelona have traditionally struggled in defence and Puyol's tough style coupled with speed, guts and sheer physical presence has won him many friends in the fickle world of Catalan football.

After Spain's run to the quarter-finals of Euro 2000 new coach Jose Antonio Camacho gave him the international nod in a friendly tie with Holland in November that year as he sought to reshape the defence for the 2002 World Cup in Asia.

American football

Spain's Puyol (R) vies with his teammate Guti (L) during a training session for the Spanish national team at the Spanish Federation Sport City in Las Rozas near Madrid, 20 August 2003. AFP PHOTO/ Javier SORIANO.

Puyol's mother must have earned plenty of sympathy when demanding her son shear off his flowing locks, that she found dirty, now he was representing the national side. But Puyol, known as a bit of a brawler too, ignored the matronly call and is therefore easily recognisable on the pitch.

South Korean forward Seol Ki-hyeon (R) and Spanish defender Carles Puyol battle for the ball during their quarter-final match at the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan in Gwangju, 22 June 2002. The winner will meet Germany in the semifinal match on June 25 in Seoul. AFP PHOTO/Roberto SCHMIDT

He is a big fan of American football and is one of the patron's off Barcelona's team the Dragons, who play in the old Olympic stadium.

Out at the Asian Wolrd Cup Spain again fell at the quarter-final stage when South Korea beat them on penalties. Puyol had equiped himself well in his first major international tournament.

He has a contract with Barcelona until June 2007 where he earns more than 2.4 million euros per season. He should remain the pillar of defence for both club and country even beyond that date.