Claude Puel
{{Short description|French football manager (born 1961)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Claude Puel
| image = Claude Puel (cropped).jpg
| caption = Puel as Lille manager in 2006
| full_name = Claude Jacques Puel{{cite web |url=https://www.verif.com/dirigeants/Claude-PUEL-2689392/ |title=Claude Jacques Puel |website=Verif.com |access-date=9 March 2025 |language=fr}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|9|2|df=y}}{{cite news |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheEntraineur27.html |title=Claude Puel |newspaper=L'Équipe |location=Paris |access-date=9 March 2025 |language=fr}}
| birth_place = Castres, Tarn, France
| height = 1.77 m{{cite web |url=https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/l/l80029.html |title=Puel: Career path |website=BDFutbol |access-date=9 March 2025}}
| position = Defensive midfielder
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 1970–1977
| youthclubs1 = Castres
| youthyears2 = 1977–1979
| youthclubs2 = Monaco
| years1 = 1979–1996
| clubs1 = Monaco
| caps1 = 488
| goals1 = 4
| manageryears1 = 1999–2001
| managerclubs1 = Monaco
| manageryears2 = 2002–2008
| managerclubs2 = Lille
| manageryears3 = 2008–2011
| managerclubs3 = Lyon
| manageryears4 = 2012–2016
| managerclubs4 = Nice
| manageryears5 = 2016–2017
| managerclubs5 = Southampton
| manageryears6 = 2017–2019
| managerclubs6 = Leicester City
| manageryears7 = 2019–2021
| managerclubs7 = Saint-Étienne
}}
Claude Jacques Puel ({{IPA|fr|klod pɥɛl}}; born 2 September 1961) is a French football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He spent his entire playing career with Monaco, before becoming manager of the club, leading them to the league title in his first full season in charge. He has also managed Lille, Lyon, Nice and Saint-Étienne in Ligue 1, and Southampton and Leicester City in England's Premier League.
Playing career
Puel started his football career as a youth with Castres, where he was spotted by Monaco, joining their training centre in 1977. He played his first professional game in the 1979–80 season. He spent his entire career at Monaco, playing 601 official matches in total. During his time at Monaco, he won two championships and three French Cups.{{Cite web|url=https://www.givemesport.com/814823-five-things-you-need-to-know-about-southamptons-new-manager-claude-puel|title=Claude Puel: Five things Southampton fans should know about their new manager|date=30 June 2016|website=GiveMeSport|access-date=4 October 2019|archive-date=25 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225044809/https://www.givemesport.com/814823-five-things-you-need-to-know-about-southamptons-new-manager-claude-puel|url-status=dead}} He also played under compatriot Arsène Wenger who jovially recalled being on the wrong end of a sliding tackle saying "Even on the morning of a Cup final he could tackle and even if it was the manager then no problem!".{{Cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/arsenal-manager-arsene-wenger-recalls-moment-he-was-tackled-by-southampton-boss-claude-puel-in-a3341451.html|title=Arsene Wenger recalls moment he was floored by Saints boss at Monaco|date=9 September 2016|website=Evening Standard}}
Managerial career
=Monaco=
Before being appointed as the manager of Monaco, he was the physical trainer and manager of Monaco's reserve team. He was appointed as the manager in January 1999. He won the French Championship in 2000, with players such as Ludovic Giuly and Marcelo Gallardo.{{cite news |last1=Pepper |first1=Chris |title=What happened next? Monaco's last team to win Ligue 1 in 1999/2000 |url=https://www.squawka.com/en/news/what-happened-next-monacos-last-team-to-win-ligue-1-in-19992000/906075#lVDA6SI4ZMUk7pBH.97 |access-date=28 October 2018 |publisher=Squawka |date=20 February 2017}}
=Lille=
Lille were one of the winners of the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, having defeated União de Leiria of Portugal 2–0 in extra time in the final after a goalless aggregate draw.{{cite news |title=Lille l'a fait |url=https://www.eurosport.fr/football/intertoto/2004/lille-l-a-fait_sto631154/story.shtml |access-date=28 October 2018 |publisher=Eurosport |date=24 August 2004 |language=fr}}
=Lyon=
Puel joined Lyon, the team who had won the last seven French league titles, on a four-year contract on 18 June 2008.{{cite web| title= Puel appointed Lyon manager| url= http://fourfourtwo.com/news/restofeurope/11959/default.aspx| publisher= FourFourTwo| access-date= 18 June 2008| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110718062028/http://fourfourtwo.com/news/restofeurope/11959/default.aspx| archive-date= 18 July 2011| df= dmy-all}} In 2010, he helped the club reach the semi-final of the Champions League for the first time in its history. In his final game in charge in May 2011, he defeated his former club Monaco and ended their 34-year spell in the top flight.{{cite news |title=Lyon's Puel relieved but 'sad for Monaco' |url=https://www.uefa.com/news/01f1-0e78a7011b87-5c39f010b74d-1000--lyon-s-puel-relieved-but-sad-for-monaco/ |access-date=27 October 2018 |publisher=UEFA |date=30 May 2011}} Lyon terminated his contract on 20 June 2011, although he had just finished third, as he had not won a trophy in his three seasons.{{cite news |title=Lyon fire Puel after trophy drought |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2011-06-21-lyon-fire-puel-after-trophy-drought/ |access-date=28 October 2018 |work=Times Live |date=21 June 2011}}
=Nice=
File:DSC 5240 (9326334893).jpg's shirt in 2013.]]
On 23 May 2012, Puel reached agreement on a three-year deal with Nice.{{cite web| title= Accord de principe avec Claude Puel| url= http://www.ogcnice.com/actualite/news.php?clef=8134| publisher= www.ogcnice.com| access-date= 24 May 2012| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120527130019/http://www.ogcnice.com/actualite/news.php?clef=8134| archive-date= 27 May 2012| df= dmy-all}}
=Southampton=
On 30 June 2016, Puel was appointed the manager of Southampton on a three-year deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160630-claude-puel-announcement-southampton-first-team-manager-3162443.aspx|title=Puel appointed Saints' First Team Manager|publisher=Southampton FC|date=30 June 2016|access-date=30 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630135824/http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160630-claude-puel-announcement-southampton-first-team-manager-3162443.aspx|archive-date=30 June 2016|url-status=dead}} On 14 June 2017, Puel's contract was "terminated with immediate effect".{{cite web|title=Club Statement: Claude Puel|url=https://southamptonfc.com/news/2017-06-14/club-statement-claude-puel-southampton|publisher=Southampton FC|access-date=15 June 2017|date=14 June 2017|archive-date=16 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616161849/https://southamptonfc.com/news/2017-06-14/club-statement-claude-puel-southampton|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Claude Puel: Southampton sack manager after one season in charge |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40051080|website=BBC Sport|date=14 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jun/14/claude-puel-sacked-as-southampton-manager|title= Claude Puel sacked as Southampton manager after one season in charge|date=14 June 2017|work=Guardian|access-date=15 June 2017}} His sacking yielded mixed reactions. In his only season in charge, Southampton reached the League Cup final and recorded an 8th-place finish in the Premier League, albeit with 17 fewer points than his predecessor Ronald Koeman attained the season prior. Puel was particularly criticised for his defensive tactics, with Southampton's scoring record one of the poorest in the league.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/06/14/claude-puel-sacked-southampton/|title=Claude Puel sacked by Southampton with Thomas Tuchel on list of potential replacements|last=Wilson|first=Jeremy|date=14 June 2017|website=Telegraph|access-date=31 July 2017}} Sports journalist Paul Doyle called Puel "a victim of Southampton's admirably unreasonable expectations".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/jun/15/claude-puel-southampton-premier-league-expectations|title=Claude Puel a victim of Southampton's admirably unreasonable expectations|first=Paul|last=Doyle|date=15 June 2017|access-date=15 June 2017|newspaper=The Guardian}}
=Leicester City=
On 25 October 2017, Puel was appointed as the new manager of struggling Premier League side Leicester City, replacing recently sacked Craig Shakespeare, on a contract running until June 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.lcfc.com/news/500930/leicester-city-confirm-claude-puel-as-first-team-manager/press-release|title=Leicester City Confirm Claude Puel As First Team Manager|date=25 October 2017|publisher=Leicester City F.C.|access-date=25 October 2017}} His first game in charge came on 29 October, when they beat Everton 2–0 in the Premier League.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41711697|title=Leicester City 2–0 Everton|date=27 October 2017 |publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=27 November 2017}}
From 31 January 2018 until the end of the season, Leicester recorded only three wins from 14 league games,{{citation|title = Leicester 0–2 West Ham|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43931927|publisher = BBC Sport|author = Steve Sutcliffe|date = 5 May 2018|access-date = 11 December 2018}} a dismal run that saw Puel accused of negative football.{{citation|title = Tottenham 5–4 Leicester|url =https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44020159|publisher = BBC Sport|date = 13 May 2018}} His decision to block Riyad Mahrez's transfer to Manchester City on deadline day resulted in the player going absent from training for ten days.{{citation|title = Manchester City 5–1 Leicester City|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42927832#tab-0|publisher = BBC Sport|author = Chris Bevan|date = 10 Feb 2018|access-date = 17 Dec 2018}} Puel joined Leicester in 13th place and helped the club climb up the table to finish in ninth position.{{cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/premier-league-table/2017|title=Premier League 2017/18|access-date=10 June 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2018/jan/24/claude-puel-leicester-city-defence-premier-league|title=How Claude Puel calmed Leicester down and carried them up the table|newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 January 2018 |access-date=10 June 2018 |last1=Laurence |first1=Martin }} After the season concluded, it was speculated that Puel would be leaving the club, though he continued as manager.{{cite web|url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/brendan-rodgers-linked-unlikely-leicester-1659450|title=Brendan Rodgers linked with unlikely Leicester City move|date=10 June 2018 |access-date=10 June 2018}}
Puel's decision to leave Adrien Silva out of the first team squad and make him train with the under-23s was criticized by the player's father, who accused the manager of unfairly "picking on his son".{{citation|title = Adrien Silva's Father Criticises Foxes Manager Claude Puel for Poor Treatment of Son|url = https://www.90min.com/posts/6275044-adrien-silva-s-father-criticises-foxes-manager-claude-puel-for-poor-treatment-of-son|publisher = 90min|date = 19 January 2019|access-date = 18 September 2020|archive-date = 9 February 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190209021651/https://www.90min.com/posts/6275044-adrien-silva-s-father-criticises-foxes-manager-claude-puel-for-poor-treatment-of-son|url-status = dead}} A shock 2–1 FA Cup third round defeat to League Two club Newport County on 6 January 2019,{{citation|title = Newport County 2-1 Leicester in FA Cup third round|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46713172|publisher = BBC Sport|author = Michael Pearlman|date = 6 January 2019|access-date = 10 August 2019}} in which Puel was jeered by Leicester fans for fielding an understrength side,{{citation|title = Under-pressure Leicester boss Puel has been forced to defend his team selection after his side crashed out of the FA Cup|url = https://www.itv.com/news/2019-01-07/under-pressure-leicester-boss-puel-has-been-forced-to-defend-his-team-selection-after-his-side-crashed-out-of-the-fa-cup/|publisher = ITV News|date = 7 January 2019|access-date = 10 August 2019}} was voted by BBC viewers as the biggest upset of the competition.{{citation|title = FA Cup third round: Which result was voted the biggest shock?|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46777537|publisher = BBC Sport|date = 7 January 2019|access-date = 10 August 2019}} After six league games without a win,{{citation|title = Claude Puel sacked by Leicester: Five reasons why it went wrong|url = https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/11646784/claude-puel-sacked-by-leicester-five-reasons-why-it-went-wrong|publisher = Sky Sports|author = Adam Bate|date = 24 February 2019}} Puel was sacked by Leicester on 24 February 2019, following a defeat at home to Crystal Palace the previous day.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43942584|title=Claude Puel sacked by Leicester after 16 months in charge|work=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2019 |access-date=24 February 2019}}
=Saint-Étienne=
On 4 October 2019, Puel returned to Ligue 1 when he was appointed as Saint-Étienne's new manager, on a contract lasting until 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Ligue-1-claude-puel-officiellement-nomme-entraineur-et-manager-general-de-saint-etienne/1066283|title=Ligue 1 : Claude Puel officiellement nommé entraîneur et manager général de Saint-Étienne|work=L'Équipe|language=FR}} Two days later was his first match, the Derby du Rhône against his former team Lyon, and won 1–0 at home with a last-minute goal by substitute Robert Beric.{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Adam |last2=Devin |first2=Eric |title=Claude Puel joins St Étienne and immediately turns up heat on Lyon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/07/claude-puel-st-etienne-derby-against-lyon |access-date=31 January 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=7 October 2019}}
Puel's team beat reigning champions Rennes in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France on 5 March 2020, to reach the final for the first time since 1982.{{cite news |title=Boudebouz, Puel, Stephan… Les principales réactions après Saint-Etienne – Rennes (2-1)|trans-title=Boudebouz, Puel, Stephan… The main reactions after Saint-Etienne – Rennes (2-1) |url=https://www.football365.fr/boudebouz-puel-stephan-les-principales-reactions-apres-saint-etienne-rennes-2-1-9799514.html |access-date=9 March 2020 |publisher=Football 365 |date=5 March 2020 |language=fr}} They lost that match on 24 July, by a single goal to Paris Saint-Germain.{{cite news |title=Perrin didn't intend to hurt Mbappe – Puel |url=https://www.beinsports.com/th-en/ligue-1/news/perrin-didnt-intend-to-hurt-mbappe-puel-5/1510672 |access-date=25 July 2020 |publisher=beIN Sports |date=25 July 2020}}
On 5 December 2021, Puel was sacked after a 5–0 loss to Rennes, with his team in last place with two wins from 17.{{cite news |last1=Abbott |first1=Matt |title=Former Leicester City manager sacked with club rock bottom after 5-0 hammering |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/leicester-city-claude-puel-saint-6306750 |access-date=22 December 2021 |work=Leicester Mercury |date=5 December 2021}}
Personal life
Puel has two sons and a daughter. Both of his sons, Paulin and Grégoire, are professional footballers and played under his command at Nice.{{Cite web|url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-claude-puel-everything-you-678020|title=Who is Claude Puel? All you need to know about man set to be City's next boss|first=Mark|last=Clayton|date=25 October 2017|work=Leicester Mercury}}
Managerial statistics
{{updated|match played 5 December 2021}}{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure | ||||
| rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From !rowspan=2|To !colspan=5|Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|P|Matches played}} | {{abbr|W|Matches won}} | {{abbr|D|Matches drawn}} | {{abbr|L|Matches lost}} | {{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}} |
| align=left|Monaco
|align=left|13 January 1999 |align=left|30 June 2001 {{WDL|113|56|24|33|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align=left|Lille
|align=left|1 July 2002 |align=left|17 June 2008 {{WDL|299|119|94|86|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align=left|Lyon
|align=left|18 June 2008 |align=left|20 June 2011 {{WDL|156|76|44|36|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align=left|Nice
|align=left|23 May 2012 |align=left|24 May 2016 {{WDL|169|69|38|62|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align=left|Southampton
|align=left|30 June 2016 |align=left|14 June 2017 {{WDL|53|20|13|20|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align=left|Leicester City
|align=left|25 October 2017 |align=left|24 February 2019 {{WDL|67|23|18|26|decimals=2}} | ||||
| align=left|Saint-Étienne
|align=left|4 October 2019 |align=left|5 December 2021 {{WDL|88|26|23|39|decimals=2}} | ||||
| colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|945|389|254|302|decimals=2}} |
Honours
=Player=
;Monaco
- Ligue 1: 1981–82, 1987–88
- Coupe de France: 1980, 1985, 1991
- Trophée des Champions: 1985
=Manager=
;Monaco
;Lille
Southampton
Saint-Étienne
- Coupe de France runner-up: 2019–20{{Cite web |date=24 July 2020 |title=Mbappé suffers ankle injury as PSG beat 10-man Saint-Étienne to lift French Cup |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/24/mbappe-suffers-ankle-injury-as-psg-beat-10-man-saint-etienne-to-lift-french-cup |access-date=21 June 2022 |website=The Guardian}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category}}
{{Navboxes
| title= Awards
| bg= gold
| fg= navy
| list1 =
{{UEFA Intertoto Cup winning managers}}
{{Ligue 1 winning managers}}
{{Ligue 1 Manager of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{AS Monaco FC managers}}
{{Lille O.S.C. managers}}
{{Olympique Lyonnais managers}}
{{OGC Nice managers}}
{{Southampton F.C. managers}}
{{Leicester City F.C. managers}}
{{AS Saint-Étienne managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Puel, Claude}}
Category:Sportspeople from Castres
Category:Footballers from Tarn (department)
Category:French men's footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:AS Monaco FC managers
Category:Olympique Lyonnais managers
Category:Southampton F.C. managers
Category:Leicester City F.C. managers
Category:AS Saint-Étienne managers
Category:Premier League managers
Category:French expatriate football managers
Category:Expatriate football managers in Monaco
Category:Expatriate football managers in England
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:French football managers
Category:French expatriate sportspeople in Monaco
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Monaco
Category:French expatriate men's footballers
Category:French football coaches