Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso was born in the small town of Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, into a family known for its footballing prowess. His father, Periko Alonso, was a successful footballer who won La Liga titles and featured in the national team.

Xabi Alonso, the former professional Spanish footballer, was born on 25 November 1981 in Tolosa, Spain. He played for top clubs like Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, as well as the Spanish national team.

Xabi Alonso joined Real Sociedad's youth side Antiguoko where he played alongside Mikel Arteta. Their performances attracted the attention of scouts from top Spanish sides.

Xabi Alonso made his debut for Real Sociedad against Logrones in Copa del Rey on December 1, 1999. He went on to make 14 more appearances that season.

In January 2001, John Toshack, the manager of Real Sociedad, appointed 20-year-old Xabi Alonso as the team captain in a move that helped the team climb out of the relegation zone and finish the season in 14th place.

Under the tutelage of John Toshack, Xabi Alonso's captaincy marked a resurgence of form for Real Sociedad in the 2001-02 season, finishing in 13th place with Alonso making 30 appearances and scoring his first league goal.

In the 2002-03 season, Xabi Alonso played a key role in Real Sociedad's second-place finish in La Liga, setting a club record for their highest ever points total and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time. Alonso received praise for his performances and was awarded the Best Spanish Player award.

Xabi Alonso made his international debut for Spain against Equador on April 30, 2003. He later featured in Euro 2004 against Russia and Portugal.

In August 2004, Xabi Alonso made a move from Real Sociedad to Liverpool in a deal worth £10.7 million. Despite interest from Real Madrid, Alonso chose to join Liverpool and focused on integrating with the team under Rafael Benítez.

Xabi Alonso suffered a broken ankle in the 2005 New Years’ Day clash against Chelsea, impacting Liverpool's team performance noticeably.

In the Champions League final, Liverpool faced a 3-0 deficit against Milan but made a dramatic comeback in the second half. Xabi Alonso scored a crucial goal after his penalty was saved, helping Liverpool equalize and eventually win the match in a penalty shootout.

In an FA Cup match against Luton Town, Xabi Alonso assisted Liverpool in a remarkable 5-3 comeback victory after being 3-1 down. Alonso scored two impressive goals from long distances, including one from behind the half-way line.

On 20 September 2006, Xabi Alonso scored a remarkable long-range goal from his own half in a match against Newcastle United. The goal was described as 'outrageous' by the BBC and 'audacious' by The Independent. Alonso dismissed claims of luck, attributing his ability to score such goals to his training routine.

On 8 June 2007, Xabi Alonso signed a five-year contract with Liverpool, expressing his strong attachment to the club and its supporters. Despite facing challenges such as injuries and competition for a place in midfield, Alonso's determination and skills were recognized by his coach Rafael Benítez.

On 12 January 2008, Xabi Alonso marked his 100th league appearance for Liverpool in a match against Middlesbrough. His role in the team's midfield was crucial, with his coach Rafael Benítez praising him as a top-class player capable of influencing games.

On December 11, 2008, Xabi Alonso achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Premier League player to complete 1,000 successful passes in a single season, showcasing his exceptional skills and contribution to Liverpool's midfield.

Xabi Alonso successfully convinced Real Madrid to finalize the deal by submitting a formal transfer request.

On April 25, 2009, Xabi Alonso scored his final goal for Liverpool in a 3-1 away victory against Hull City. His free-kick deflected off the Hull wall, marking a memorable moment in his career with the club.

On 4 August 2009, Xabi Alonso signed for Real Madrid after spending five seasons at Liverpool FC.

On August 5, 2009, Xabi Alonso was transferred from Liverpool to Real Madrid for a fee of €34.50m.

On 21 February 2010, Xabi Alonso scored his first goal for Real Madrid against Villarreal in a 6–2 win, after being given the number 22 jersey and playing in a holding midfield position.

During his time at Real Madrid, Xabi Alonso won two King’s Cups, a Supercup of Spain, a Spanish League, and another UEFA Champions League.

On 23 June 2012, Xabi Alonso played his 100th match for Spain in the quarter-finals against France, scoring both goals in a 2–0 victory. The first goal was a header from a cross by Jordi Alba, and the second was a penalty kick.

Real Madrid defeated Bayern Munich 4-0 in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, securing a spot in the final with a 5-0 aggregate win. Xabi Alonso received a yellow card that ruled him out of the final.

Xabi Alonso retired from international football on 27 August 2014, marking the end of his career representing Spain at the international level.

On August 29, 2014, Xabi Alonso transferred from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich for a fee of €8.00m. The transfer marked a significant move in his career.

In his 100th Champions League appearance, Xabi Alonso was sent off for a second bookable offense. He was suspended for the return leg, but later scored a goal against Porto in the quarter-final.

Xabi Alonso was one of four Bayern players to miss in a penalty shootout defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal semi-final. He also missed in the DFL-Supercup shootout against VfL Wolfsburg.

Xabi Alonso signed a new contract with Bayern Munich, extending his stay at the club until 2017.

Xabi Alonso confirmed his retirement from professional football via Twitter, effective at the end of the 2016-17 season.

Xabi Alonso played his final professional game alongside teammate Philipp Lahm in a 4-1 victory against Freiburg. He assisted the opening goal before being substituted off.

On July 1, 2017, Xabi Alonso joined Bayern Munich after retiring from football. He made the move from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich.

In 2018, Xabi Alonso completed his UEFA Elite coaching licence and returned to Real Madrid to take on a coaching role at one of the club's youth sides.

On June 1, 2019, Xabi Alonso was appointed as the manager of Real Sociedad B, a Segunda División B club.

Alonso's Sanse club won promotion to the Segunda División after defeating Algeciras in a play-off match. This marked Real Sociedad B's return to the Segunda División after nearly six decades.

In his first game in the second tier, Alonso's team won 1-0 against Leganés with a goal from Jon Karrikaburu.

Alonso was appointed as the new head coach of Bayer Leverkusen until June 2024, taking over a team struggling in the Bundesliga.

Alonso debuted as Bayer Leverkusen's head coach with a 4-0 home win over Schalke 04.

Alonso confirmed that he would stay for a second season at Bayer Leverkusen despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur.

On March 29, 2024, Alonso announced his decision to stay at Leverkusen until the end of the 2024-25 season, despite interest from other clubs.

On August 4, Alonso signed a new contract with the club until 2026.