Illarramendi, the Liga BBVA's Breakthrough Player

Real Madrid CF's player, Asier Illarramendi, received the award for last season's Liga BBVA Breakthrough Player, beatingAlberto Moreno (Sevilla FC) and Léo Baptistão (Rayo Vallecano/Club Atlético de Madrid), the other nominees, to the gong.

Illarramendi, who wore the colours of Real Sociedad de Fútbol last year, showed that he is up for a challenge we he took over the txuri-urdin midfield in the team from Donostia's brilliant Liga BBVA campaign. With Phillipe Montanier at the helm, the young midfielder pulled the team's strings in 32 matches in the season that took the team from the Anoeta to the UEFA Champions League.

'Illarra' established a name for himself at the Basque team last season, surprising everyone with his quality performances in the centre of the pitch. His class last year earned him a contract with Real Madrid, where he shares a dressing room with Isco Alarcón, who won the same award at the Fourth LFP Awards Ceremony when he was still playing at Málaga CF.