Football
ESPN staff 9y

Diego Simeone, Diego Costa shortlisted for La Liga awards

Atletico Madrid's Diego Simeone and former striker Diego Costa have been shortlisted for Spanish Football League (LFP) awards after their title-winning displays last season.

The Argentinian coach, who won the honour after the 2012-13 campaign, is up against Athletic Club boss Ernesto Valverde and Rayo Vallecano's Paco Jemez for the coach of the year honour.

Costa -- who left Atleti to join Chelsea this summer -- will battle it out with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Vela of Real Sociedad for the best striker award after scoring 27 Liga goals last term.

Ronaldo won the Pichichi title for the top scorer in La Liga with 31 goals, four more than Costa.

Mexican striker Vela made a huge impact for Real Sociedad, scoring 16 times and setting up another 12 as the Basque outfit finished seventh.

Simone guided Atletico to their first league title since 1996, a championship that was secured when the Rojiblancos drew 1-1 at Barcelona in May on the final day of the campaign.

The South American also led Atletico to the Champions League final which they lost 4-1 to city rivals Real Madrid.

Valverde's Athletic finished fourth in La Liga and went on to qualify for Europe's elite club competition for the first time in 16 years.

Jemez, meanwhile, engineered a major recovery for Rayo, taking them from bottom of the standings during the campaign to a 12th-place finish.

Champions League-winning coach Carlo Ancelotti and Unai Emery, who steered Sevilla to Europa League glory, have not been included on the list.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

^ Back to Top ^