As Spain's sports men and women shake off the cobwebs after their extended winter holidays, we take a look back at some of the individuals and teams who helped shape last year's backpage headlines. Without further ado, and in no particular order, they are:

Fernando Alonso: With seven Grand Prix victories, Fernando Alonso became the youngest ever winner of the Formula One championship and the first Spaniard ever to do so. In recognition of this achievement, he was awarded the 25th Prince of Asturias Sports prize, thus becoming the youngest ever winner of this prestigious award. However, there was a twist in the tale as the year drew to a close when it was announced that the young Asturian ace has been signed up to race for rivals Mercedes-McLaren for the 2007 season, prompting some speculation about the long term future for the Renault Grand Prix team. The former junior go-kart champion is also the first Spaniard to start a Formula One in pole position and the first to win a Grand Prix: it was at the Hungaroring circuit in Budapest in 2003, and the youngster dominated the race from start to finish. In doing so, Alonso became the youngest man to win a Grand Prix, beating by 77 days the record set by Bruce McLaren in Sebring in 1959, when the New Zealander was 22 years and 104 days old.

Rafa Benitez: In his first season at Anfield, the former Valencia boss delivered an historic fifth European Cup/ Champions League title after two decades in the wilderness following the Heysel stadium tragedy; no mean feat given that the Reds found themselves 3-0 down at half time. After a stuttering start to the new season, Liverpool have gone from strength to strength both domestically and in Europe. They currently lie third in the Premiership, and although Chelsea seem almost certain to retain the title, Liverpool have their eye on catching Manchester Utd to finish as runners-up, and are strongly placed in the Champions League competition having beaten off Chelsea's challenge to win their qualifying group. It is also hoped that Benitez will have learned from last season's desperately disappointing FA Cup exit to Burnley, when he rested a number of key players. Perhaps failing to understand the cultural importance of the competition, it is almost certain that Benitez will not make the same mistake when this season's campaign gets underway against Luton later this afternoon.

Rafa Nadal: In an astonishing season, Rafael Nadal Parera (born 3rd June, 1986 in Manacor, Mallorca), rose to number two in the world rankings, becoming the first man since Boris Becker to do so before the age of 20. During the year he won eleven titles, including four ATP Master Series events and one Grand Slam title. By winning the Roland Garros French Open at his first attempt, he became the first player to do so since Mats Wilander in 1982. On the way to the title, he beat world number one Roger Federer in the semi final on his 19th birthday and became the sixth youngest Grand Slam champion two days later. He is also the fourth youngest French Open champion, the first teenager to win a Grand Slam since Pete Sampras, and the first teenager to win six titles in a year since Andre Agassi in 1988 at the age of 18. However, his Herculean efforts seem to be taking their toll on the youngster's knees, forcing him to pull out of a number of competitions towards the end of the season with tendonitis.

Spanish handball squad: Last February, Spain won the handball world championships in Tunisia after a great victory over defending champions Croatia 40-34. The Spaniards outplayed the Croatians throughout the final. The win ensured a first major title in the history of Spanish handball. Previous honours include two Olympic bronze medals, and three European medals (two silvers and one bronze). A large portion of the credit for Spain´s first ever World Cup triumph must go to the manager, Juan Carlos Pastor, who remains optimistic about the future with a young squad of motivated and talented youngsters at his disposal, despite the loss of his talismanic captain, Mateo Garralda, who announced his retirement from the sport shortly after the world cup final triumph.

Dani Pedrosa: Having successfully defended the 250cc title he won the for the first time last year, 20 year old Daniel Pedrosa (born 29th September 1985, in Sabadell, Barcelona) won his third world title in as many seasons, having previously won the 125cc title in 2003. Under the tutelage of Alberto Puig, Dani made his world championship debut in 2001, achieving two podium finishes. He won his first race the following season, when he finished third in the overall rankings. A brave, determined and talented rider, Pedrosa won five races in 2003 and clinched the title with two rounds still remaining. Equalling Sito Pons's record of 15 250cc world championship triumphs, his two 250cc titles were achieved despite serious ankle and shoulder injuries. Pedrosa is currently building himself up in preparation for his first 500cc MotoGP season, when he will measure up to the legendary seven times world champion Valentino Rossi (1997-125cc, 1999 - 250cc, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 - 500cc). 

Ronaldinho: Barcelona's Brazilian star, Ronaldinho was voted the best player in the world for the second year in a row with more than three times as many votes as Chelsea's Frank Lampard, who was this year's runner-up ahead of Samuel Eto'o in third place. Ronaldinho becomes only the second player ever to retain FIFA's World Player award, the other being his compatriot, Ronaldo, who won back-to-back awards in 1996 and 1997. A total of 159 national coaches and captains named Ronaldinho as their player of the year, 46 had him second, while 23 ranked him as their third choice. Lampard was named as best player by 25 judges, while Eto'o picked up 15 votes. It has been a remarkable year for Ronaldinho, who also picked up France Football's Golden Ball European player of the  year award, a UEFA award for being the best player in the Champions League, and one for his Stamford Bridge goal that was voted goal of the tournament. He also won the Liga best player award, and as Brazilian captain, for being the best player at last year's Confederation Cup. 

David Meca: On the 23rd July 2005, 31 year old David Meca fulfilled a lifetime goal by winning 25km gold at the Montreal world championships in a record time of 5 hours, 21 seconds. Later in the year, he made another attempt to break Chad Hundesby's long-standing English Channel record set in 1994, but his time of 7 hours, 22 minutes was five minutes outside the record and two minutes slower than Christoph Wandratsh's time of 7 hours, 20 minutes set in 2003. In spite of his age, the veteran shows no sign of throwing in the towel as yet, and became the first person to ever swim the 110km separating Alicante and Ibiza earlier this week. Other career highlights include swimming across Alcatraz Bay in chains, and crossing the straits of Gibraltar using only his arms. An attempt to swim the length of Loch Ness towards the end of 2004 had to be abandoned as a result of the intense cold.

Spanish football squad: As one of the seeded nations, expectations are high for Spain at the world cup finals in Germany next summer. Despite only having qualified after defeating Slovakia in the play-offs, Spain are third in FIFA's rankings behind England and Brazil. A favourable draw in a group where the biggest threat would seem to come from a Ukranian side spearheaded by Andrey Shevchenko puts Spain firmly among the pre-tournament favourites. Spain have never progressed past the quarter final stages of the world cup, but won the European championship back in 1964. Coach Luis Aragonés, who is undefeated since taking over in July 2004, has admitted the importance to his plans for next summer of Real Madrid's Raúl and Barcelona's Xavi, who are both currently recovering from long term injuries, but has an array of alternative talent at his disposal in a squad that includes a number of players gaining invaluable international experience with various Premiership clubs.