Heroes and Villains

Now that the 2002/3 season has come to an end, our final awards for the league's "Heroes and Villains" have been made.

There was no question this season about who would be Pichichi, Roy Makaay winning the European golden boot with 29 goals in the league and 10 more in other competitions. Real Madrid's Ronaldo and Raúl came second and third in our "all club competitions" table, although Real Sociedad's Nihat scored as many goals as Ronaldo in the league.

Celta's Pablo Cavallero won the Zamora prize for the best goalkeeper in the league. Argentina's first choice keeper held off the challenge from Valencia's Santiago Cañizares, winner of the last two editions.

A close race for the league's top Villain, with Málaga's Gato Romero just beating Betis fullback Varela in the end. Romero missed eight matches last season through suspension, which together with thirteen yellow cards and two reds was enough to give him first place in our table. Three Mallorca players, Lozano, Eto'o and Poli were just behind the leading pair.

Our prestigious White Stick Award went this year to Iturralde González, who clocked up 123 yellow cards and 9 reds in the twenty two and a half games he refereed. He wins first prize as the man who gave out most cards, although Pérez Lasa ran him close and actually managed a better average of 7.28 cards per game. Iturralde only swung it thanks to the six yellow cards he showed in the cup final. (30.07.03)