Five standouts of the Spanish season which ended on Sunday:
Jose Mourinho
- Real Madrid boss Mourinho won his first Spanish league to become the first coach to win major titles in four different European countries.
The Portuguese maestro was able to instil a siege mentality in his squad throughout the season that made the difference over an incredibly competitive Barcelona side.
Mourinho will go into next season with the capture of a tenth Champions League title, almost an obsession in the Spanish capital, as a key objective after penalty drama disappointment against Bayern Munchen in this year's semi-final.
Pep Guardiola
- The former youth-team player who had spent all but a few years at Barcelona since he was a child surprised everyone by delaying news on his future plans throughout the season.
After a dramatic week in April, where he saw his side finally surrender La Liga title to their great rivals with a 2-1 home defeat and which was followed by Champions League disappointment at home to Chelsea, Guardiola finally made public his decision to leave after four trophy-laden seasons.
His career, he insists, is on hold as he recharges his batteries before making any decision on where he will coach in the future.
Cristiano Ronaldo
- With 46 goals in the league and 59 in total, the Portuguese star finally added a Spanish title to his honours in his third season at Real.
On many occasions it was his vital goals that won crucial games, a back-heel at Rayo Vallecano and two spectacular strikes at Atletico Madrid, to name only a few, gave his team six points away from home in tight Madrid derbies.
His winning mentality shone throughout the season and he seems to have become more of a team player since the arrival of his compatriot Mourinho.
Lionel Messi
- His 50 league goals and 72 in all competitions broke both records, taking him past the 67 Gerd Muller scored in 1972-73.
He will now have to prove he can do it all again without the help of his mentor Guardiola who made him the key figure during his successful reign.
Radamel Falcao
- The Colombian striker finished the season as the league's third top scorer with 24 goals for Atletico Madrid.
With a match winning performance in the Europa League final and two stunning goals Falcao will undoubtedly be a target for bigger clubs during the summer.
His form towards the end of the season was spectacular right until its dying minutes when he rose to hit the winning header that relegated Villarreal with two minutes of the season left.
Source: AFP
