Champions Tigres UANL came close to scooping a clean sweep of awards for their performance in the Apertura 2011 at Monday´s Balón de Oro award ceremony.

The Monterrey-based team, who won the league title for the first time in 29 years, went home with eight of the end-of-season awards, but the star of the show was Tigres´ captain Lucas Lobos.

The 30-year-old Argentine claimed the award for best player, as well as best attacking midfielder.

Lobos was seen by many as the inspiration behind Tigres´ championship win.

Tigres also won team of the year and the fair play award, with their Brazilian coach Ricardo “Tuca” Ferretti winning best coach for the second year running.

“Thanks to the directors that have always given me their support and, primarily, to the players, many thanks,” said Ferretti on receiving the award.

An emotional Enrique Palos won best goalkeeper, with Hugo Ayala picking up best center back and Jorge Torres Nilo winning best full back.

Tigres fitness trainer Guillermo Orta also took home an award for his work during last season.

The awards were voted on by a panel made up of players, coaches, journalists and Mexican federation officials.

The rest of the winners were:

Best newcomer: Joe Corona (Club Tijuana)
Best defensive midfielder: Juan Pablo Rodriguez (Santos)
Best striker: Oribe Peralta (Santos)
Top goalscorer: Ivan Alonso (Toluca)
1st place in regular season: Chivas
 

by Tom Marshall (@MexicoWorldCup)