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Birthdate:
25.11.1981
Birthplace: Tolosa, Spain
Other clubs: Eibar (loan), Real Sociedad, Real Madrid
Bought from: Real Sociedad
Signed for LFC: £10700000 20.08.2004
International debut: 30.04.2003 vs Equador
International caps: 76/9 (49/5 at LFC) - 11.07.2010
Liverpool debut:
29.08.2004
Last appearance: 24.05.2009
Debut goal: 16.10.2004
Last goal: 25.04.2009
Contract expiry: 05.08.2009
LFC league games/goals: 143 / 15
Total LFC games/goals: 210 / 19
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Player Notes:
Xabi Alonso made his debut for Real Sociedad vs. Logrones on the 1st of December 1999 in Copa del Rey. He made 14 further appearances that season, but was loaned out to 2nd division Eibar the following season to gain some much needed match experience. Real Sociedad were however struggling in the Primera Liga and new manager and former Liverpool great, John Toshack, recalled Alonso from his loan and in a shock move made the 19-year-old captain of the side. Sociedad managed to get out of trouble and cemented their position in the league the following year by finishing mid-table. Alonso and Sociedad blossomed in the 2002-2003 season when Sociedad challenged for the Spanish title and finished two points behind Real Madrid. Alonso scored 8 goals in 34 league games and respected football magazine 'Don Balon' chose him the best Spanish Player of the Year.
Alonso made his international debut vs Equador on 30th April 2003 and featured for Spain against Russia and Portugal in Euro 2004, but Spain failed to get out of the group stages. Sociedad qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League, but got knocked out by Lyon and struggled in the League, finishing in 15th place. Rafa had seen enough of Xabi to convince him of the qualities he could bring to Liverpool: strong in defence and going forward and possessed an excellent passing range. If there ever was a player moulded in the Liverpool way, it was Alonso: comfortable in possession with the vision to spot passes and the ability to execute them. Also a tough customer and maybe Rafa didn't expect that he would boast one of the best rates of successful tackles in the Premiership.
Alonso made an instant impression at Liverpool, but suffered a broken ankle in the 2005 New Years Day clash against Chelsea and the difference of the team's performance was noticeable. Alonso returned to the side three months later just in time to feature in the second leg of the quarter-final clash vs. Juventus in the Champions League when Liverpool drew 0-0 in Turin after beating them 2-1 at Anfield where Alonso was on the bench. He was one of Liverpool's key players and was vital to success in Europe, it was therefore a big loss when he was banned for the second leg of semi-final vs. Chelsea at Anfield, after Gudjohnsen got him yellow carded at Stamford Bridge. Fortunately his absence didn't prevent Liverpool from conquering Chelsea 1-0. Alonso scored the equalising goal against AC Milan in the final, pouncing on the rebound after seeing his penalty saved. Alonso was a European champion in his debut season at Liverpool.
Alonso's speciality at Liverpool became no doubt his long range strikes, scoring twice from inside his own half. His first effort was from 65 yards in the 5-3 FA Cup win over Luton in January 2006, guaranteeing a Liverpool fan 25,000 pounds after he'd bet that Alonso would score from his own half that particular season. Adrian Hayward had placed his 200 pound bet at 125-1 after noticing that Alonso had tried several times in his debut season to score from his own half: "Since placing the bet, I've always had a vision in my mind that it would come when the opposing keeper came out for a corner in a cup game. I couldn't believe it when Luton got a corner and the keeper started to run upfield....I thought I was going to pass out. When it went in, I went crazy", said a delighted Adrian. Alonso played 53 games in the 2005-2006 season and was looking forward to an FA Cup final vs West Ham. He picked up an ankle injury in the last league game of the season vs Portsmouth, but convinced Rafa and the medical team that he was ready for the final. Alonso managed 67 minutes before being taken off at the Millennium Stadium, but Gerrard-inspired Liverpool went on to win an FA Cup winners' medal for him after conquering the Hammers in a penalty shoot-out.
Alonso repeated this incredible feat of scoring from his own half vs Newcastle in September 2006 in a league game at Anfield. This time the distance was 70 yards and Steve Harper tried desperately to reach the shot, but to no avail. The Independent described it as "one of the most audacious goals in Anfield's rich 115-year history." Despite this wonder goal Alonso seemed to have lost his way a bit. His usually sublime passes were quite wayward and he didn't contribute as he did before. Rafa kept faith with him and he managed 51 games in the 2006-2007 season that ended disappointingly in Athens where Alonso played the whole 90 minutes in the 2-1 loss to AC Milan in the Champions League final.
Xabi played in fewer first-team competitive matches during his 4th season at Anfield than the season previous, just 27 out of a possible 59. He began the season well, being picked from the start in the opening 5 League games and scoring twice as promoted Derby County were thrashed 6-0 at Anfield on the first day of September. He was substituted due to a slight injury vs Portsmouth on 15th September. He aggravated the injury in training and was out for six weeks. Alonso was rushed to action vs Arsenal on 28th October 2007 and he limped off after 68 minutes and missed the next seven weeks. Rafa struggled to find a suitable midfield combination in his absence rotating between Sissoko, Mascherano and Lucas to partner Gerrard. Alonso found himself back in favour after Benitez changed his formation slightly by moving Steven Gerrard further forward almost as a second striker. By the end of the season Alonso had taken his total of first-team appearances up to 163, although he failed to add to those two goals he had scored against Derby in the Autumn.
Alonso played 163 mins in Spain's successful Euro 2008 tournament and came on as sub in the 63rd minute in the final vs Germany. After the tournament speculation was rife that Alonso would be moving on from Liverpool with Gareth Barry the man expected to take his place. In the end Barry's transfer from Aston Villa never happened and Alonso went on to have perhaps his best season as a Liverpool player, making 47 first-team appearances and scoring 5 times, including the goal that ended Chelsea's record-breaking unbeaten home run in the League. His tenacity was back, prompting his opponents to foul him on a constant basis, which resulted in six sending-offs for fouls made on him! Next summer brought even more rumours that the Spaniard's future lay away from Merseyside. Although he took part in Liverpool's pre-season preparations by joining the squad on their trip to the Far East as well as making a brief appearance as a substitute when Liverpool opened Espanyol's new stadium on the first weekend in August, it was reported that the player had handed in a transfer request. With Real Madrid seeming to monitor the situation for most of the summer, it came as little surprise when LFC announced that they had agreed to sell the midfielder to Madrid. The fee was undisclosed in the club's statement, but is believed to be around 30 million pounds and certainly a significant profit on the 10.7 million pounds Liverpool paid Real Sociedad for Alonso's services in 2004.
Xabi took time to settle back into Spanish football but still only missed 5 League matches as Real finished runners-up to Barcelona and three points behind their Catalan rivals. Alonso scored three times during his first season back in La Liga since 2003-04. |
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