On Thursday morning Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso announced that he would retire at the end of this season. He posted a note on social media which said "Lived it. Loved it. Farewell beautiful game."
https://twitter.com/XabiAlonso/status/839777479426510848
Alonso, 35, came up in the Real Sociedad youth program before making his debut with the senior team in 2000. He then became a star for both Liverpool, where he won a Champions League in 2005, and then Real Madrid, where he won the Copa del Rey and his second Champions League trophy in 2014. He then joined German powerhouse Bayern Munich.
Alonso has represented Spain 114 times, scoring 16 goals, and helping the team win the 2010 World Cup. (He was famously karate kicked in the chest by Nigel de Jong in the 2010 World Cup Final, which Spain won over the Netherlands.)
A brilliant midfielder, Xabi Alonso remains one of the elite long passers of the ball to ever play the game. He will retire with a full trophy case and a bright future ahead of him, whatever he chooses to do.
