Football: Retired Puyol takes up new role at Barcelona

ANKARA 

Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona's former center-back Carles Puyol will be serving alongside Catalan club's sporting director, Andoni Zubizarreta, as of next season, the club has announced.

The 36-year-old will begin his new duty at the club next September, according to a statement on Barcelona's website Friday.

Having played regularly for many years for ‘Barca,’ Puyol, who announced his retirement earlier this month owing to knee problems, thanked his club for his time as a player and letting him continue serve for the Catalan side.

"I have always played football and tried to do so as well as possible, and I'll be doing the same with this," the statement quoted the former 'Barca' defender as saying.

aa.com.tr/en