66 Facts About Xabier Alonso

Xabier Alonso Olano is a Spanish football coach and former professional player who is currently the head coach of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

On 23 June 2012, Xabier Alonso won his 100th cap for Spain in the quarter-final of Euro 2012 against France; he celebrated the occasion by scoring both of Spain's goals to send them into the semi-finals.

Xabier Alonso was born in the small town of Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, into a family known for its footballing prowess.

Xabier Alonso featured in the national team, winning 21 caps over the course of his career.

Xabi Xabier Alonso lived in the city of Barcelona for the first six years of his life and moved to San Sebastian thereafter.

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Xabier Alonso was immersed in football and his father would often bring him and his older brother, Mikel, to CE Sabadell's training ground to practice together.

Xabier Alonso was influenced by his father's playing, taking more pleasure in passing the ball well than shooting at goal.

At age 15, Xabier Alonso went to the Irish town of Kells, County Meath, on a school exchange programme to learn English.

Xabier Alonso's move to Real Sociedad was not a companionless one, as his older brother Mikel, who had become an adept player, joined the club together with him.

Xabier Alonso quickly progressed through the youth ranks and the reserve team at Real Sociedad and impressed enough to earn a first team debut at the age of 18.

Xabier Alonso made his first senior appearance against Logrones in December 1999 in a Copa del Rey match.

Xabier Alonso failed to make another appearance in the season but the following year brought more opportunities.

Toshack lauded Xabier Alonso, noting that the impression he had on the team was exceptional, especially for a player from the youth team.

Under the tutelage of John Toshack, Xabier Alonso's captaincy marked a resurgence of form for Real Sociedad.

Xabier Alonso appeared consistently in La Liga with 30 appearances over the course of the season and scored his first league goal, finishing with a season total of three.

Real Sociedad's management changed again in the summer of 2002 with the arrival of Raynald Denoueix, but Xabier Alonso kept his place in the first team on the strength of his past performances.

Xabier Alonso received much praise for his role in the team's success and was given the Best Spanish Player award by Spanish sports magazine Don Balon.

Xabier Alonso's performances earned Alonso national repute and Inaki Saez, the coach of the Spanish national team, called him up for La Seleccion.

Xabier Alonso revelled in the opportunity to perform in Europe, appearing in all the team's games, and Real Sociedad qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League.

Xabier Alonso had other concerns and focused on international duty with Spain at UEFA Euro 2004.

Xabier Alonso was not picked for Real Sociedad's pre-season friendlies, signalling that an offer by Liverpool was being treated seriously.

Xabier Alonso did not lament the fact that a move to Real Madrid had not materialised.

Xabier Alonso arrived at Liverpool along with Luis Garcia from Barcelona, marking the beginning of a new era at Anfield.

Xabier Alonso made his Premier League debut for the Merseysiders against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium on 29 August 2004.

Furthermore, Xabier Alonso scored his first goal for the team from a free kick to bring Liverpool ahead of the opposition.

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Xabier Alonso was elated at the achievement and felt he was settling in well in England.

Xabier Alonso made his return to the first team in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Juventus.

Xabier Alonso was distraught that he would miss the game and vehemently contested the referee's decision to no avail.

Xabier Alonso was praised for his pivotal influence on the team's comeback and manager Benitez reinforced his importance to the team.

Crouch denied this, highlighting that Xabier Alonso's passing ability, alongside Gerrard, would define Liverpool's style of play.

Xabier Alonso faced more competition for his place in the form of new arrival Mohamed Sissoko.

Xabier Alonso appeared in all of Liverpool's games in the Champions League but the dominance shown in the previous season had gone as the team lost to Benfica in the knockout stage.

Xabier Alonso scored two impressive goals from distance: one from 45 yards, and the other 65 yards from goal; behind the half-way line.

Consequently, Xabier Alonso's goals marked a stroke of luck for a Liverpool fan who won £25,000 from a £200 bet on Xabier Alonso scoring from within his own half.

Xabier Alonso, still affected by the injury, could not manage the entire 90 minutes and was substituted in the second half.

Xabier Alonso rebutted claims that his 70-yard goal was all down to luck and stated that he took long range shots as part of his training routine.

Xabier Alonso returned from injury at December 2007, but over the following months he increasingly faced competition for a place in midfield from Javier Mascherano and Lucas.

Xabier Alonso made his 100th league appearance for Liverpool on 12 January 2008 against Middlesbrough.

Xabier Alonso was given the number 22 jersey in Madrid and played in a holding midfield position.

Xabier Alonso was a nominee in the LFP Awards, awards given out by the Liga de Futbol Profesional, the Spanish Football league.

Xabier Alonso was nominated in the Best Midfielder category, alongside Xavi and Javi Martinez.

Xabier Alonso was given the number 14 jersey after the departure of vice-captain Guti.

Xabier Alonso did not score any goals that whole season but was vital.

Xabier Alonso continued to be an undisputed force in the starting XI and ultimately claimed the first league title of his career.

On 8 January 2014, Xabier Alonso signed a contract extension with Real Madrid, which would have kept him at the club until 2016.

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Xabier Alonso received a yellow card after a sliding tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger in the first half; as he already had two before the match, this ruled him out of the final.

On 29 August 2014, Xabier Alonso moved to Bayern Munich on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

FC Koln, Xabier Alonso broke the record for most passes completed in a Bundesliga game, with 196.

Xabier Alonso would go on to record his fourth goal, another free kick, against Porto in the Champions League quarter-final.

Xabier Alonso was the only player to miss as the club lost the shootout at the end of the 2015 DFL-Supercup away to VfL Wolfsburg, his attempt being saved by goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

On 18 December 2015, Xabier Alonso signed a new contract with Bayern, keeping him at the club until 2017.

Xabier Alonso was substituted off in the 82nd minute for Franck Ribery.

Xabier Alonso was named in the Spanish squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and he scored Spain's first goal of the tournament, his first international goal, against Ukraine on 14 June 2006.

Xabier Alonso featured mainly as a substitute but, with key players resting, he captained Spain in the final group game against Greece, earning the man of the match award.

Xabier Alonso started every game for Spain during the 2010 tournament, playing alongside Sergio Busquets and Xavi in midfield and helping his side to lift their first-ever World Cup trophy.

Complete, consistent, hardworking and versatile midfielder, Xabier Alonso is regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, and was effective both creatively and defensively.

Since retiring, Steven Gerrard has claimed that he believes Xabier Alonso was the best midfielder he has ever played alongside.

In 2018, whilst completing his UEFA Elite coaching course alongside former teammates Raul, Xavi, Victor Valdes, and Joan Capdevila, Xabier Alonso returned to Real Madrid where he assumed a role coaching the Real Madrid U14s.

Xabier Alonso was appointed manager of Segunda Division B club Real Sociedad B on 1 June 2019, and began the role on 9 July 2019.

On 25 May 2022, Real Sociedad announced that Xabier Alonso would leave Sanse at the end of the season, with the side already relegated from the second level.

Xabier Alonso was regarded as a quiet and friendly person by his former teammates at Liverpool.

Xabier Alonso is married to Nagore Aranburu and the couple have three children: Jontxu, Ane and Emma.

Xabier Alonso convinced Arteta to transfer to Everton after he told him how happy he was living in Liverpool.

Xabier Alonso helped persuade former Real Sociedad teammate Juan Ugarte to make a move to Wales by joining Wrexham in 2004.

Xabier Alonso has another brother involved in football, Jon, who works as a referee.

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Xabier Alonso was quoted in The Times Online in 2011 as saying, "I am still a Liverpool fan and will be forever, absolutely" and that he will raise his Liverpool-born son as a Red supporter.