Illarramendi, the Best Midfielder in the Liga BBVA

Real Madrid CF's Basque midfielder won the award for the Best Liga BBVA Midfielder of last season at the Liga de Fútbol Profesional Award Ceremony. The ex-Real Sociedad de Fútbol player was selected over Beñat Etxebarria (Real Betis Balompie/Athletic Club) and Javi Fuego (Rayo Vallecano/Valencia CF).

"These prizes are also a recognition of teamwork, because I think we did a great job and I would like to dedicate this to all of my teammates from last season. You work every day in order to improve, and that's what I am doing. I have changed team, and right now I am training hard in order to get opportunities. I am very happy with these awards, but I cannot stop here, I have to keep working day to day and keep improving", explained Illarramendi.

Illarramendi's outstanding season with Real Sociedad,during which he played 32 Liga BBVA matches, was enough to trump those of the other players. Under the tutelage of Phillipe Montanier, the player made a place for himself in the txuri-urdin midfield and became one of the Frenchman's regulars.

Skill, vision and physical presence are just some of the qualities the Mutriku-born player brings to any midfield. These virtues did not go unnoticed at Real Madrid CF, who snapped him up in the summer after a great campaign with Real Sociedad, or in the Spanish under-23 team where he pulls the strings from the midfield.