Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo said it was about time his club received the recognition they deserved, after Antoine Griezmann, Diego Simeone, Diego Godin and Jan Oblak all won prizes for 2015-16.
Griezmann won the best player award in the Spanish league for last season, while Simeone took the best coach prize, Godin received the best defender accolade, and Oblak clinched best goalkeeper.
Good night atléticos! ?So proud of having all these winners in the #PremiosLaLiga. We will keep working hard! #GoAtleti pic.twitter.com/aQ9lDF8Yqf
- Atleti English (@atletienglish) October 24, 2016
Barcelona's Lionel Messi was selected as the best forward, while Real Madrid's Luka Modric was the best midfielder in awards voted for by team captains across La Liga, apart from the best player prize which is decided using a data-analysis system.
Through recent years Atletico have challenged at the top of the Liga standings, but generally missed out on individual prizes, but this time around the Estadio Vicente Calderon outfit dominated the evening even though they finished third in 2015-16 behind champions Barcelona and second-placed Real Madrid.
"At least this year they have remembered us, after many years of being ignored," Cerezo said to Marca, from the ceremony at Valencia's Palacio de Congresos.
Colchoneros coach Simeone gave an emotional speech from the podium while receiving his second coach of the year trophy, saying he felt a "lucky man" to have the chance to work with a "group of incredible men" at Atletico.
Gracias al @Atleti, cuerpo técnico y a ese grupo de hombres que superan al jugador de fútbol pic.twitter.com/emZU8JBWZG
- Diego Pablo Simeone (@Simeone) October 24, 2016
"Thanks for this prize," Simeone said. "I want to share it with the people closest to me, the coaching staff. I am the most visible, but they are the ones who get the ideas across to the players. With the club, with my family, my four children, my wife, and above all to say that I am a lucky guy. When I came to Atletico Madrid I found myself with a group of incredible men, more than footballers. When a coach has that good luck, he must always just say thanks to his players."
Griezmann did not attend the gala ceremony, with Cerezo stepping up instead to accept on his behalf a trophy previously won by Messi on six occasions and once by Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Griezmann deserves this prize," Cerezo said. "We are very proud to have him at our club."
Godin, 30, had previously been overlooked for an award won by Madrid's Sergio Ramos (four times), Barcelona's Gerard Pique and former Barca right-back Dani Alves in the past.
The Uruguay international thanked his teammates for helping him receive such individual recognition.
Muy contento de recibir este premio. Gracias a mis compañeros, sin ellos no sería posible. pic.twitter.com/WimMkaRTIr
- Diego Godín (@diegogodin) October 24, 2016
"The truth is it is a privilege to be here and receive their prize," Godin said. "I want to think La Liga and all the fellow professionals who voted for me. I want to share it with the club, and the coaching staff, and especially my teammates. Individual prizes are only possible with the collective work of everyone. I also want to take the chance to send a greeting to all South America and especially to Uruguay."
Oblak also remembered his teammates when picking up a prize won by former Atletico and now Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois in 2013.
"This is not just down to me, it is for the whole team," the Slovenia international said. "I am happy with this trophy, and I hope to win many more."