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Though Atlético Madrid acquired the league trophy on Saturday night after beating Real Valladolid, the players had to wait until Sunday to lift it in a special, RFEF-sanctioned ceremony at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Club president Enrique Cerezo spoke, along with Comunidad de Madrid president Isabel Díaz Ayuso and city mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida. Luis Rubiales, the leader of the Spanish football federation, was on location to see the trophy officially change hands from Sergio Ramos last year to Koke this year.
Del Metropolitano al cielo de Madrid
— Fútbol en Movistar+ (@MovistarFutbol) May 23, 2021
El Atlético ya tiene el título de LaLiga. pic.twitter.com/P7Bt3bT859
⚪ ¡Campeones de Liga! El capitán @Koke6 levanta la copa de campeones
— Telemadrid (@telemadrid) May 23, 2021
https://t.co/Cnw7Ol5lQX pic.twitter.com/g8cKoiQdcE
You can catch the presentation in its entirety here:
Koke is the first player in more than a generation to win the league twice with Atlético — and as captain, he hoisted the trophy Gabi last lifted in 2014. Additionally, Diego Simeone has become one of three managers in the club’s 118-year history to claim two league titles. Cholo has coached Atleti to eight trophies after capturing two as a player — meaning the Argentine can lay claim to 30 percent of the team’s all-time trophy haul.
Post-celebration, several players stepped out to parade the trophy in front of the fans who haven’t seen them in-person for over a year. Back inside the Wanda Metropolitano, top scorer Luis Suárez confirmed he will stay with Atlético for the 2021/22 season.