Sports paper AS pays tribute to the best of 2012 and the career of Vicente del Bosque

 The AS Sports Awards, held at the Hotel Palace in Madrid (opened by José Canalejas in 1912), was attended by big names from the worlds of sport, politics and journalism.

The eight winners were chosen by readers of AS from a range of top-level athletes, many of whom were present at the Gala, including Joel Gonzalez, Brigitte Yagüe and Nicolas Garcia, taekwondo medalists in London, and David Cal, five-times Olympic medallist (the most successful Spanish athlete in the Games, with one gold and four silver).

Real Madrid’s Florentino Perez was one of the last to arrive and the most enthusiastically received. He was accompanied by the team’s Vice President Eduardo Fernandez de Blas. Jose Luis Astiazaran, president of the League, and Jorge Carretero, spokesman and representative of the Spanish Football Federation, were spotted chatting amiably. Also present at the event, which was both celebration and reunion, were Enrique Cerezo and Ignacio Gonzalez, president of the Madrid regional government.

As Oscar Campillo, editor-in-chief of Marca, Santi Nolla, editor-in-chief of El Mundo Deportivo, and Joan Vehils, editor-in-chief  of Sport, listened, Alfredo Relaño, editor-in-chief of AS, addressed the crowd: "Here we are, the editors-in-chief of Spain’s four most important sports newspapers. Thanks for coming. The fact that you are here shows that rivalry does not necessarily mean enmity. Sport, once again, proves that it can bring people together. "

Though the event was packed with dignitaries and journalists, it was the sports stars Casillas and Falcao who caused the greatest sensation. Also in fine form were the two hosts: Laura Martinez, Cadena SER’s sports director, and Manu Carreño, director of sports program Carrusel. Both presented the eight awards, the prestigious iron hearts designed by sculptor Xavier Mascaro and which every year the honor best athletes as chosen by readers of AS.

Falcao was welcomed on stage to the tune of the Atletico anthem, followed by the Vuelta 2012 team, made up of Contador, Valverde and Purito. Casillas, meanwhile, took the stage to pick up his award with all the swagger of a world champion. There was enthusiastic applause from both Cerezo and Florentino, who shortly before had shaken hands with Radamel Falcao, giving reporters the photo op they’d been anxiously awaiting all evening.

Mireia Belmonte, double medalist in London (eleven of the 17 Spanish medals were won by women), dazzled in a tri-color outfit by Alicia Rueda and walked tall in shoes by Lodi. David Cal presented her with her well-deserved iron heart. A nonchalant Teresa Perales, meanwhile, looked equally radiant, winning hearts as easily metals (22 medals in total, just one behind Phelps).

Alejandro Blanco, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee, shared his dreams for the 2020 Games, and finally Vicente del Bosque appeared deeply moved, when to the tune of the Radetzky March, school children filed in carrying the prizes won by the Spanish national football team manager.