Claude Puel: A Career In Pictures
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01
Playing success
Claude Puel’s playing career was a distinguished one. A tough-tackling defensive midfielder, he spent a total of 17 years at AS Monaco, winning two Ligue 1 titles (81/82, 87/88), the Coupe de France on three occasions (80, 85, 91) and the Trophée des Champions (85).
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02
Distinguished company
Puel amassed over 450 league appearances in the principality, including a seven-year spell playing under current Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger. He also lined-up alongside the likes of Jürgen Klinsmann and Youri Djorkaeff during a fabled time at the club.
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03
Instant silverware
Puel was promoted from reserve coach to manager at Stade Louis II in 1999. The Castres-born boss lifted the Ligue 1 title above Paris Saint-Germain and the Trophée des Champions in 2000. After reaching the final of the Coupe de la Ligue in 2001, Puel departed Monaco.
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04
Six seasons at Lille
In July 2002, a year after ending his 24-year association with Monaco, he moved to Lille, a club where he would go on to serve for six seasons, finishing second in 2005 and earning a reputation as a coach who developed young talent and allowed them to express themselves.
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05
European pedigree
Puel’s Lille also competed in the 2005/06 UEFA Champions League, where they would face Benfica and Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, who they defeated 1-0 in the group stage. The following season, they faced United again, losing 2-0 over two legs.
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06
Final four of the Champions League
Puel left Stadium Lille Métropole for Lyon in the summer of 2008. He led the Les Gones to the semi-final stage of the Champions League in 2010, having defeated Real Madrid and Bordeaux in the knockout stages before eventually losing out to Bayern Munich in the final four.
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07
Four years on the French Riviera
Puel’s next career move took him to the French Riviera to manage four-time champions OGC Nice in the summer of 2012. During his four-year tenure with Les Aiglons, Puel led them to two fourth-place finishes before leaving at the end of the 2015/16 campaign.
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08
Moving to England
Following Ronald Koeman’s departure to join Everton, Southampton turned to Puel in June 2016. The Saints enjoyed a successful season under the Frenchman’s guidance, reaching the EFL Cup final, a clash they ultimately lost 3-2 due to Zlatan Ibrahimović’s late goal.
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09
Steady progress
Despite the disappointment of that Wembley defeat, the Saints marched on to secure an eighth-place finish in the Premier League – as well as having earlier booked a memorable 2-1 victory over Italian giants Internazionale in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.
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10
Impressive form
Puel left the South Coast club with a record of 20 wins and 13 draws from his 53 matches in charge at St Mary’s Stadium.