La Liga: Jude Bellingham named Player of the season
Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, and Girona’s Michel are among the standout performers recognized at the La Liga Awards following the 2023/24 season.
With the season now concluded, La Liga has announced the winners across various award categories, celebrating the exceptional performances from the recently ended campaign.
After a summer transfer move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid last summer, Jude Bellingham exploded into life in La Liga by finishing the season with 19 goals and six assists.
Bellingham, 20, was crucial for Los Blancos especially in the first half of the campaign and also in the second, scoring the winner in both editions of El Classico against rivals Barcelona.
He beat teammate Vinicius Jr, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski, Villarreal’s Alexander Sorloth and La Liga top scorer Artem Dovbyk for the top prize.
The Englishman has expressed his gratitude to his coaches, teammates, and fans, indicating that it is an honour to win La Liga in his first season while playing for Real Madrid.
“Thank you very much for this trophy, it’s an honour to receive it. This one is dedicated to all my teammates and all the staff and manager for the belief they had in me and most importantly the fans. This is the best club in the world. It is a pleasure everytime I get to play for this club, Hala Madrid”, he said to La Liga.
Bellingham still has one further task ahead of him to complete a stellar debut season at Real Madrid, as he is set to take on his former club Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League final.
Barcelona teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal has been named La Liga’s U23 Player of the 2023/24 season, after a successful debut campaign at 16 years old.
Yamal edged big names on the list such as 17-year-old teammate Pau Cubarsi, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, Real Sociedad’s Take Kubo, and Nico Williams of Athletic Club.
The 16-year-old also made a staggering 37 appearances for the Catalans this season in the league, and played in the wide areas under the just-departed Xavi Hernandez, scoring five goals and providing five assists.
He is the youngest scorer in La Liga history, and although Barcelona did not clinch the title, Yamal proved to be crucial all season for the Catalans in attack, often partnering Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha in the Blaugrana’s front three.
Girona’s Michel was named as Coach of the season over nominees such as Madrid’s league title winning manager Carlo Ancelotti, Athletic Club’s Ernesto Valverde, and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone.
Michel led Girona to the club’s highest ever La Liga point tally ( 81) while competing with Real Madrid and Barcelona in the first half of the season.
Michel is known for his tactical brilliance and bravery in games, and his side played one of the best football this season.
Girona secured champions league football this year, after being in the Spanish second division two seasons ago. The Catalan side put up one of the best performances under Michel by completing the double over city rivals Barcelona in a 8-4 aggregate score line, and Michel can only hope for more in the coming years.
One of the best goals to see for a very long time in La Liga. Jesus Areso clinched goal of the season after his stunning long range effort from across the corner flag to find the back of the net against Getafe.
The goal was also voted as ESPN’s Play of the Week back in January.
Girona’s Artem Dovbyk clinched top scorer of the campaign with 24 goals, but will be awarded separately in the coming weeks for the Pinchichi trophy.
