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 Balón. These awards ceased to exist after the closure of the magazine in 2011.


Don Balón Awards

Best Spanish Player

Season  Player                                          Club
1975-76	MIGUEL ÁNGEL González Suárez	         	Real Madrid CF
1976-77	Juan Gómez González, ‘JUANITO’       		Real Burgos CF
1977-78	Miguel Bernardo Bianqueti, ‘MIGUELI’       	FC Barcelona
1978-79	Enrique Castro González, ‘QUINI’        	Real Sporting de Gijón
1979-80	Rafel GORDILLO Vázquez	                    	Real Betis Balompié
1980-81	Francisco José González Urrutikoetxea, ‘URRUTI’	RCD Español
1981-82	Miguel TENDILLO Berenguer	         	Valencia CF
1982-83	Juan Antonio SEÑOR Gómez	           	Real Zaragoza CD
1983-84	CERVANTES                              		Real Murcia CF
1984-85	Miguel Bernardo Bianqueti, ‘MIGUELI’		FC Barcelona
1985-86	José Miguel González Martín del Campo, ‘MÍCHEL’	Real Madrid CF
1986-87	Andoni ZUBIZARRETA Urreta	        	FC Barcelona
1987-88	José Antonio LARRAÑAGA Gurrutxaga		Real Sociedad de Fútbol
1988-89	FERNANDO Gómez Colomer	                	Valencia CF
1989-90	Rafael MARTÍN VÁZQUEZ                 		Real Madrid CF
1990-91	Jon Andoni GOIKOETXEA Lasa             		FC Barcelona
1991-92	Agustín de Carlos ELDUAYEN	        	Real Burgos CF
1992-93	Francisco Javier González Pérez, ‘FRAN’		RC Deportivo A Coruña
1993-94	Julen GUERRERO López                 		Athletic Club de Bilbao
1994-95	José Emilio AMAVISCA Gárate	         	Real Madrid CF
1995-96	José Luis Pérez CAMINERO	          	Club Atlético de Madrid
1996-97	RAÚL González Blanco                 		Real Madrid CF
1997-98	ALFONSO Pérez Muñoz	                	Real Betis Balompié
1998-99	RAÚL González Blanco            		Real Madrid CF
1999-00	RAÚL González Blanco                		Real Madrid CF
2000-01 RAÚL González Blanco                		Real Madrid CF
2001-02 RAÚL González Blanco                		Real Madrid CF
2002-03 XABI ALONSO Olano                               Real Sociedad de Fútbol
2003-04 Vicente RODRÍGUEZ                               Valencia CF     
2004-05 XAVI Hernández                                  FC Barcelona
2005-06 David VILLA                                     Valencia CF
2006-07 Santi CAZORLA                                   Recreativo de Huelva
2007-08 Marcos SENNA                                    Villarreal CF
2008-09 Andrés 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 SÁNCHEZ Márquez (Mexico)	           	Real Madrid CF
1987-88	Ricardo Rogerio de Brito, ‘ALEMÃO’ (Brazil)	Club Atlético de Madrid
1988-89	Óscar Alfredo RUGGERI (Argentina)		CD Logroñés
1989-90	HUGO SÁNCHEZ Márquez (Mexico)          		Real Madrid CF
1990-91	Bernd SCHUSTER (Germany)          		Club Atlético de Madrid
1991-92	Michael LAUDRUP (Denmark)	        	FC Barcelona
1992-93	Miroslav DJUKIC (Yugoslavia)       		RC Deportivo A Coruña
1993-94	Hristo STOICHKOV (Bulgaria)	         	FC Barcelona
1994-95	Iván 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 Fútbol
2003-04 Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, RONALDINHO (Brazil)   FC Barcelona
2004-05 Juan Román RIQUELME (Argentina)                 Villarreal CF
2005-06 Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, RONALDINHO (Brazil)   FC Barcelona
2006-07 Lionel MESSI (Argentina)                        FC Barcelona
2007-08 Sergio AGÜERO (Argentina)                       Club Atlético 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 ARAGONÉS Gárate (Spain)	         	Club Atlético 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 Fútbol
1981-82	Alberto ORMAECHEA (Spain)	         	Real Sociedad de Fútbol
1982-83	Javier CLEMENTE Lázaro (Spain)	         	Athletic Club de Bilbao
1983-84	Javier CLEMENTE Lázaro (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 Lázaro (Spain)         		RCD Español
1987-88	Leo BEENHAKKER (Netherlands)          		Real Madrid CF
1988-89	John B. TOSHACK (Wales)	                     	Real Sociedad de Fútbol
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 Coruña
1993-94	Víctor FERNÁNDEZ (Spain)          		Real Zaragoza
1994-95	Arsenio IGLESIAS (Spain)	        	RC Deportivo A Coruña
1995-96	Radomir ANTIC (Yugoslavia)          		Club Atlético de Madrid
1996-97	Vicente CANTATORE (Uruguay)          		Real Valladolid
1997-98	Javier Iruretagoyena Amiano, ‘IRURETA’	        RC Celta de Vigo
1998-99	Héctor CÚPER (Argentina)	         	RCD Mallorca
1999-00	Javier Iruretagoyena Amiano, ‘IRURETA’		RC Deportivo A Coruña
2000-01 José Manuel Esnal Pardo, ‘MANÉ’ (Spain)         Deportivo Alavés
2001-02 Rafael BENÍTEZ Maudes (Spain)                   Valencia CF
2002-03 Raynald DENOUEIX (France)                       Real Sociedad de Fútbol
2003-04 Javier IRURETA (Spain)                          RC Deportivo A Coruña
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 Fútbol 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 Atlético 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 Atlético de Madrid
2021-22 Karim BENZEMA (France)                          Real Madrid CF
2022-23 Marc-André TER STEGEN (Germany)                 FC Barcelona           

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 Atlético de Madrid
2013-14 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina)                 Club Atlético de Madrid
2014-15 LUIS ENRIQUE Martínez García (Spain)            FC Barcelona
2015-16 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina)                 Club Atlético de Madrid
2016-17 José Luis MENDILIBAR (Spain)                    SD Eibar
        Asier GARITANO (Spain)                          Leganés
2017-18 Ernesto VALVERDE (Spain)                        FC Barcelona
2018-19 José BORDALÁS (Spain)                           Getafe
2019-20 Zinedine ZIDANE (France)                        Real Madrid CF
2020-21 Diego Pablo SIMEONE (Argentina)                 Club Atlético de Madrid
2021-22 Manuel Luis PELLEGRINI (Chile)                  Real Betis Balompié          


El País Awards

Another award is organised by Madrid newspaper El País.

Best Spanish Player

Season  Player                                          Club
1989-90 Manuel SANCHIS                                  Real Madrid CF
1990-91 Jon Andoni GOIKOETXEA                           FC Barcelona
1991-92 Manuel Sánchez MANOLO                           C Atlético Madrid
1992-93 Miguel González del Campo MICHEL                Real Madrid CF
1993-94 JULEN GUERRERO                                  Athletic Bilbao
1994-95 Emilio AMAVISCA                                 Real Madrid CF
1995-96 RAÚL González Blanco /                          Real Madrid CF /
        José Luis Pérez CAMINERO                        C Atlético Madrid
1996-97 Fernando HIERRO /                               Real Madrid CF /
        RAÚL González Blanco                            Real Madrid CF
1997-98 LUIS ENRIQUE Martínez                           FC Barcelona
1998-99	RAÚL González Blanco                		Real Madrid CF
1999-00	RAÚL González Blanco                		Real Madrid CF
2000-01 RAÚL González Blanco                		Real Madrid CF
2001-02 Diego TRISTÁN                                   RC Deportivo A Coruña

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 /
        ROMÁRIO de Sousa (Br)                           FC Barcelona
1994-95 Iván Zamorano (Chile)                           Real Madrid CF
1995-96 Pedja Mijatovic’  (Yugoslavia)                  Valencia CF
1996-97 RONALDO Luiz Nazário 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 (Revelación)

Season  Player                                          Club
1989-90 Luis MILLA                                      FC Barcelona
1990-91 LUIS ENRIQUE Martínez                           R Sporting Gijón 
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 LARDÍN /                                  RCD Espanyol / 
        Iván DE LA PEÑA                                 FC Barcelona
1996-97 Iván DE LA PEÑA                                 FC Barcelona
1997-98 Albert CELADES                                  FC Barcelona 
1998-99 XAVI Hernández                                  FC Barcelona
1999-00 GERARD López                                    Valencia CF
2000-01 JAVI MORENO                                     Deportivo Alavés
2001-02 JOAQUÍN Sánchez                                 Real Betis Balompié

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 Coruña /
        VICTOR Fernández (Spain)                        Real Zaragoza
1994-95 Jorge VALDANO (Argentina)                       Real Madrid CF
1995-96 LUIS ARAGONÉS (Spain)                           Valencia CF
1996-97 Vicente CANTATORA (Chile)                       Real Valladolid
1997-98 Louis VAN GAAL (Netherlands) /                  FC Barcelona 
        Javier IRURETA (Spain) /                        RC Celta 
        Héctor CÚPER (Argentina)                        RCD Mallorca 
1998-99	Héctor CÚPER (Argentina)	         	RCD Mallorca
1999-00	J.A. CAMACHO		                        Spain (national team)
2000-01   not awarded
2001-02 Rafael BENÍTEZ Maudes (Spain)                   Valencia CF


About this document

El País 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: 17 Jan 2024

(C) Copyright Emilio Pla Diaz and RSSSF 2001/24
You are free to copy this document in whole or part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the author. All rights reserved.