Claude Jacques Puel is a French football manager and former player.
16 Facts About Claude Puel
2.
Claude Puel 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.
3.
Claude Puel has managed Lille, Lyon, Nice and Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1, and Southampton and Leicester City in England's Premier League.
4.
Claude Puel spent his entire career at Monaco, playing 601 official matches in total.
5.
Claude Puel was appointed as the manager in January 1999.
6.
Claude Puel won the French Championship in 2000, with players such as Ludovic Giuly and Marcelo Gallardo.
7.
Claude Puel joined Olympique Lyonnais, the team who had won the last seven French league titles, on a four-year contract on 18 June 2008.
8.
On 23 May 2012, Claude Puel reached agreement on a three-year deal with OGC Nice.
9.
On 30 June 2016, Claude Puel was appointed the manager of Southampton on a three-year deal.
10.
On 14 June 2017, Claude Puel's contract was "terminated with immediate effect".
11.
Claude Puel was particularly criticised for his defensive tactics, with Southampton's scoring record one of the poorest in the league.
12.
On 25 October 2017, Claude 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.
13.
From 31 January 2018 until the end of the season, Leicester recorded only three wins from 14 league games, a dismal run that saw Claude Puel accused of negative football.
14.
Claude Puel joined Leicester in 13th place and helped the club climb up the table to finish in ninth position.
15.
On 4 October 2019, Claude Puel returned to Ligue 1 when he was appointed as AS Saint-Etienne's new manager, on a contract lasting until 2022.
16.
Claude 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.