Fernando Hierro
This was the season that marked the start of the Vicente del Bosque era of trophy winning at the club, having taken over from John Toshack early in the campaign. The squad was also largely different from the previous squad, with the arrival of Steve McManaman (Liverpool) and Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) from the English Premier League respectively, as well as local talents Míchel Salgado, and Iván Helguera, to support the budding young talent of Raúl, Iker Casillas, Fernando Morientes and Guti, as well as the older veterans such as Fernando Hierro and Roberto Carlos.