Spain - Footballer of the Year
Since 1975-76, different prizes were awarded to the best players and trainers of the Spanish championship by the magazine Don Bal�n. These awards ceased to exist after the closure of the magazine in 2011.
Don Bal�n Awards
Best Spanish Player
Season Player Club 1975-76 MIGUEL �NGEL Gonz�lez Su�rez Real Madrid CF 1976-77 Juan G�mez Gonz�lez, �JUANITO� Real Burgos CF 1977-78 Miguel Bernardo Bianqueti, �MIGUELI� FC Barcelona 1978-79 Enrique Castro Gonz�lez, �QUINI� Real Sporting de Gij�n 1979-80 Rafel GORDILLO V�zquez Real Betis Balompi� 1980-81 Francisco Jos� Gonz�lez Urrutikoetxea, �URRUTI� RCD Espa�ol 1981-82 Miguel TENDILLO Berenguer Valencia CF 1982-83 Juan Antonio SE�OR G�mez Real Zaragoza CD 1983-84 CERVANTES Real Murcia CF 1984-85 Miguel Bernardo Bianqueti, �MIGUELI� FC Barcelona 1985-86 Jos� Miguel Gonz�lez Mart�n del Campo, �M�CHEL� Real Madrid CF 1986-87 Andoni ZUBIZARRETA Urreta FC Barcelona 1987-88 Jos� Antonio LARRA�AGA Gurrutxaga Real Sociedad de F�tbol 1988-89 FERNANDO G�mez Colomer Valencia CF 1989-90 Rafael MART�N V�ZQUEZ Real Madrid CF 1990-91 Jon Andoni GOIKOETXEA Lasa FC Barcelona 1991-92 Agust�n de Carlos ELDUAYEN Real Burgos CF 1992-93 Francisco Javier Gonz�lez P�rez, �FRAN� RC Deportivo A Coru�a 1993-94 Julen GUERRERO L�pez Athletic Club de Bilbao 1994-95 Jos� Emilio AMAVISCA G�rate Real Madrid CF 1995-96 Jos� Luis P�rez CAMINERO Club Atl�tico de Madrid 1996-97 RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco Real Madrid CF 1997-98 ALFONSO P�rez Mu�oz Real Betis Balompi� 1998-99 RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco Real Madrid CF 1999-00 RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco Real Madrid CF 2000-01 RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco Real Madrid CF 2001-02 RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco Real Madrid CF 2002-03 XABI ALONSO Olano Real Sociedad de F�tbol 2003-04 Vicente RODR�GUEZ Valencia CF 2004-05 XAVI Hern�ndez FC Barcelona 2005-06 David VILLA Valencia CF 2006-07 Santi CAZORLA Recreativo de Huelva 2007-08 Marcos SENNA Villarreal CF 2008-09 Andr�s INIESTA FC Barcelona 2009-10 BORJA VALERO Iglesias RCD Mallorca
Best Foreign Player
Season Player Club 1975-76 Johan NEESKENS (Netherlands) FC Barcelona 1976-77 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands) FC Barcelona 1977-78 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands) FC Barcelona 1978-79 Ulrich STIELIKE (Germany) Real Madrid CF 1979-80 Ulrich STIELIKE (Germany) Real Madrid CF 1980-81 Ulrich STIELIKE (Germany) Real Madrid CF 1981-82 Ulrich STIELIKE (Germany) Real Madrid CF 1982-83 Juan Alberto BARBAS (Argentina) Real Zaragoza CD 1983-84 Juan Alberto BARBAS (Argentina) Real Zaragoza CD 1984-85 Bernd SCHUSTER (Germany) FC Barcelona 1985-86 Jorge Alberto VALDANO Castellanos (Argentina) Real Madrid CF 1986-87 HUGO S�NCHEZ M�rquez (Mexico) Real Madrid CF 1987-88 Ricardo Rogerio de Brito, �ALEM�O� (Brazil) Club Atl�tico de Madrid 1988-89 �scar Alfredo RUGGERI (Argentina) CD Logro��s 1989-90 HUGO S�NCHEZ M�rquez (Mexico) Real Madrid CF 1990-91 Bernd SCHUSTER (Germany) Club Atl�tico de Madrid 1991-92 Michael LAUDRUP (Denmark) FC Barcelona 1992-93 Miroslav DJUKIC (Yugoslavia) RC Deportivo A Coru�a 1993-94 Hristo STOICHKOV (Bulgaria) FC Barcelona 1994-95 Iv�n Luis ZAMORANO Zamora (Chile) Real Madrid CF 1995-96 Predrag MIJATOVIC (Yugoslavia) Valencia CF 1996-97 RONALDO Luiz Nazario da Lima (Brazil) FC Barcelona 1997-98 Vitor Borba Ferreira, �RIVALDO� (Brazil) FC Barcelona 1998-99 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, �FIGO� (Portugal) FC Barcelona 1999-00 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, �FIGO� (Portugal) FC Barcelona 2000-01 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, �FIGO� (Portugal) FC Barcelona 2001-02 Zinedine ZIDANE (France) Real Madrid CF 2002-03 NIHAT Kahveci (Turkey) Real Sociedad de F�tbol 2003-04 Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, RONALDINHO (Brazil) FC Barcelona 2004-05 Juan Rom�n RIQUELME (Argentina) Villarreal CF 2005-06 Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, RONALDINHO (Brazil) FC Barcelona 2006-07 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2007-08 Sergio AG�ERO (Argentina) Club Atl�tico de Madrid 2008-09 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2009-10 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona
Best Trainer
Season Trainer Club 1975-76 Miljan MILJANIC (Yugoslavia) Real Madrid CF 1976-77 Luis ARAGON�S G�rate (Spain) Club Atl�tico de Madrid 1977-78 Luis MOLOWNY Arbelo (Spain) Real Madrid CF 1978-79 Luis MOLOWNY Arbelo (Spain) Real Madrid CF 1979-80 Luis MOLOWNY Arbelo (Spain) Real Madrid CF 1980-81 Alberto ORMAECHEA (Spain) Real Sociedad de F�tbol 1981-82 Alberto ORMAECHEA (Spain) Real Sociedad de F�tbol 1982-83 Javier CLEMENTE L�zaro (Spain) Athletic Club de Bilbao 1983-84 Javier CLEMENTE L�zaro (Spain) Athletic Club de Bilbao 1984-85 Terry VENABLES (Inglaterra) FC Barcelona 1985-86 Luis MOLOWNY Arbelo (Spain) Real Madrid CF 1986-87 Javier CLEMENTE L�zaro (Spain) RCD Espa�ol 1987-88 Leo BEENHAKKER (Netherlands) Real Madrid CF 1988-89 John B. TOSHACK (Wales) Real Sociedad de F�tbol 1989-90 John B. TOSHACK (Wales) Real Madrid CF 1990-91 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands) FC Barcelona 1991-92 Johan CRUIJFF (Netherlands) FC Barcelona 1992-93 Arsenio IGLESIAS (Spain) RC Deportivo A Coru�a 1993-94 V�ctor FERN�NDEZ (Spain) Real Zaragoza 1994-95 Arsenio IGLESIAS (Spain) RC Deportivo A Coru�a 1995-96 Radomir ANTIC (Yugoslavia) Club Atl�tico de Madrid 1996-97 Vicente CANTATORE (Uruguay) Real Valladolid 1997-98 Javier Iruretagoyena Amiano, �IRURETA� RC Celta de Vigo 1998-99 H�ctor C�PER (Argentina) RCD Mallorca 1999-00 Javier Iruretagoyena Amiano, �IRURETA� RC Deportivo A Coru�a 2000-01 Jos� Manuel Esnal Pardo, �MANɒ (Spain) Deportivo Alav�s 2001-02 Rafael BEN�TEZ Maudes (Spain) Valencia CF 2002-03 Raynald DENOUEIX (France) Real Sociedad de F�tbol 2003-04 Javier IRURETA (Spain) RC Deportivo A Coru�a 2004-05 Frank RIJKAARD (Netherlands) FC Barcelona 2005-06 Frank RIJKAARD (Netherlands) FC Barcelona 2006-07 Juan de la Cruz Cano, JUANDE RAMOS (Spain) Sevilla CF 2007-08 Gregorio MANZANO (Spain) RCD Mallorca 2008-09 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona 2009-10 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
LPF Awards
This award was established in 2008/09 by the Liga de F�tbol Profesional.
Best Player
Season Player Club 2008-09 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2009-10 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2010-11 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2011-12 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2012-13 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2013-14 Cristiano RONALDO (Portugal) Real Madrid CF 2014-15 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2015-16 Antoine GRIEZMANN (France) Club Atl�tico de Madrid 2016-17 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2017-18 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2018-19 Lionel MESSI (Argentina) FC Barcelona 2019-20 Karim BENZEMA (France) Real Madrid CF 2020-21 Jan OBLAK (Slovenia) Club Atl�tico de Madrid 2021-22 Karim BENZEMA (France) Real Madrid CF 2022-23 Marc-Andr� TER STEGEN (Germany) FC Barcelona 2023-24 Jude BELLINGHAM (England) Real Madrid CF
Best Trainer
Season Trainer Club
2008-09 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
2009-10 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
2010-11 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
2011-12 Josep GUARDIOLA Sala (Spain) FC Barcelona
2012-13 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina) Club Atl�tico de Madrid
2013-14 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina) Club Atl�tico de Madrid
2014-15 LUIS ENRIQUE Mart�nez Garc�a (Spain) FC Barcelona
2015-16 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina) Club Atl�tico de Madrid
2016-17 Jos� Luis MENDILIBAR (Spain) SD Eibar
Asier GARITANO (Spain) Legan�s
2017-18 Ernesto VALVERDE (Spain) FC Barcelona
2018-19 Jos� BORDAL�S (Spain) Getafe
2019-20 Zinedine ZIDANE (France) Real Madrid CF
2020-21 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina) Club Atl�tico de Madrid
2021-22 Manuel Luis PELLEGRINI (Chile) Real Betis Balompi�
2022-23 Imanol Alguacil (Spain) Real Sociedad
2023�24 Miguel �ngel S�nchez Mu�oz MICHEL (Spain) Girona FC
El Pa�s Awards
Another award is organised by Madrid newspaper El Pa�s.
Best Spanish Player
Season Player Club
1989-90 Manuel SANCHIS Real Madrid CF
1990-91 Jon Andoni GOIKOETXEA FC Barcelona
1991-92 Manuel S�nchez MANOLO C Atl�tico Madrid
1992-93 Miguel Gonz�lez del Campo MICHEL Real Madrid CF
1993-94 JULEN GUERRERO Athletic Bilbao
1994-95 Emilio AMAVISCA Real Madrid CF
1995-96 RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco / Real Madrid CF /
Jos� Luis P�rez CAMINERO C Atl�tico Madrid
1996-97 Fernando HIERRO / Real Madrid CF /
RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
1997-98 LUIS ENRIQUE Mart�nez FC Barcelona
1998-99 RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
1999-00 RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
2000-01 RA�L Gonz�lez Blanco Real Madrid CF
2001-02 Diego TRIST�N RC Deportivo A Coru�a
Best Foreign Player
Season Player Club
1989-90 not awarded
1990-91 not awarded
1991-92 Hristo STOICHKOV (Bulgaria) FC Barcelona
1992-93 Michael LAUDRUP (Denmark) FC Barcelona
1993-94 Michael LAUDRUP (Denmark) / FC Barcelona /
ROM�RIO de Sousa (Br) FC Barcelona
1994-95 Iv�n Zamorano (Chile) Real Madrid CF
1995-96 Pedja Mijatovic� (Yugoslavia) Valencia CF
1996-97 RONALDO Luiz Naz�rio de Lima (Brazil) FC Barcelona
1997-98 Vitor Borba Ferrerira, RIVALDO (Brazil) FC Barcelona
1998-99 Vitor Borba Ferreira, �RIVALDO� (Brazil) FC Barcelona
1999-00 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, �FIGO� (Portugal) FC Barcelona
2000-01 Luis Filipe Madeira Caeiro, �FIGO� (Portugal) FC Barcelona
2001-02 Zinedine ZIDANE (France) Real Madrid CF
Best Rookie (Revelaci�n)
Season Player Club
1989-90 Luis MILLA FC Barcelona
1990-91 LUIS ENRIQUE Mart�nez R Sporting Gij�n
1991-92 Josep GUARDIOLA FC Barcelona
1992-93 JULEN GUERRERO Athletic C Bilbao
1993-94 SERGI Barjuan FC Barcelona
1994-95 Emilio AMAVISCA Real Madrid CF
1995-96 Fernando MORIENTES / R Zaragoza /
Jordi LARD�N / RCD Espanyol /
Iv�n DE LA PE�A FC Barcelona
1996-97 Iv�n DE LA PE�A FC Barcelona
1997-98 Albert CELADES FC Barcelona
1998-99 XAVI Hern�ndez FC Barcelona
1999-00 GERARD L�pez Valencia CF
2000-01 JAVI MORENO Deportivo Alav�s
2001-02 JOAQU�N S�nchez Real Betis Balompi�
Best Trainer
Season Trainer Club
1989-90 not awarded
1990-91 not awarded
1991-92 not awarded
1992-93 not awarded
1993-94 ARSENIO Iglesias (Spain) / RC Deportivo A Coru�a /
VICTOR Fern�ndez (Spain) Real Zaragoza
1994-95 Jorge VALDANO (Argentina) Real Madrid CF
1995-96 LUIS ARAGON�S (Spain) Valencia CF
1996-97 Vicente CANTATORA (Chile) Real Valladolid
1997-98 Louis VAN GAAL (Netherlands) / FC Barcelona
Javier IRURETA (Spain) / RC Celta
H�ctor C�PER (Argentina) RCD Mallorca
1998-99 H�ctor C�PER (Argentina) RCD Mallorca
1999-00 J.A. CAMACHO Spain (national team)
2000-01 not awarded
2001-02 Rafael BEN�TEZ Maudes (Spain) Valencia CF
About this document
El Pa�s awards thanks to Carles Lozano; thanks to Roberto Di Maggio for updates since 2004.
Prepared and maintained by Emilio Pla Diaz for the Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
Author: Emilio Pla Diaz
Last updated: 14 Jan 2025
(C) Copyright Emilio Pla Diaz and RSSSF 2001/25
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper
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