Xabi Alonso decided to call it quits on a glorious footballing career at the end of the ongoing season with Bayern Munich
Hardly 12 hours after Barcelona’s seismic 6-1 victory over PSG, Xabi Alonso decided to keep the football world talking on social media by announcing his retirement from the sport following his ongoing campaign with Bayern Munich.
The Liverpool and Real Madrid legend who started off his career at Real Sociedad announced the decision on Twitter with a photo tear-jerkingly captioned “Lived it. Loved. Farewell beautiful game.”
Lived it. Loved it.
Farewell beautiful game. pic.twitter.com/1aSN7GGNzZ
— Xabi Alonso (@XabiAlonso) March 9, 2017
The announcement understandably broke the Internet as there was an outpour of support from all levels of the footballing fraternity as they stepped out to honour a modern great.
The midfielder has played in 678 professional games throughout his career scoring 43 goals and assisting 55 of them from a deep-lying role.
Alonso has made countless memories at each of the clubs he has featured for and there are very few trophies that he hasn’t won.
He will, however, long be remembered for scoring the historic equalizing goal for Liverpool against AC Milan in the Champions League final at Istanbul 2005. That of course is just one of them. The scores of supporters on Twitter did well to remind us of each and every moment of his brilliant career.
Xabi Alonso confirms he’s retiring. Watching him was a joy, but also an education. A truly brilliant player and an absolute gent
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) March 9, 2017
Xabi Alonso will retire from football at the end of the season.
What. A. Career. ? pic.twitter.com/YoQB4w19Hl
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) March 9, 2017
Robben on Xabi Alonso: “He is a great human being and a superb professional. He has won everything there is to win.”#UCL pic.twitter.com/6PsVFdphsa
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 9, 2017
Xabi Alonso announces his retirement.
A sad day for football. pic.twitter.com/FmDimdYZMC
— The Soccer Co. (@TheSoccerCo) March 9, 2017
Xabi Alonso made me feel safe. The day he left we crumbled as a football club. He was irreplaceable.
— – (@AnfieldRd96) March 9, 2017
Xabi Alonso retiring from football at the end of the season, will go down as one of the all time greats. What a player.
— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) March 9, 2017
A number of his former team-mates shared their emotional tributes to the “Pass Master” reminiscing the good old days. Oh how we wish we’d get to see him longer.
Not a bad career Pass Master! https://t.co/IUnU4DzV8V
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) March 9, 2017
“The Pass Master” announces his retirement. Good luck my friend! Thanks for all the great passes??you always found me @XabiAlonso ????
— John Arne Riise (@JARiiseOfficial) March 9, 2017
And we did love watching you play !!
Gracias por tanto Xabi !! https://t.co/19CP3FIu6c— Luis Garcia (@LuchoGarcia14) March 9, 2017
Not too Xabi Alonso.
What a player. Game will miss him. https://t.co/JjL7lcDbvm
— Spencer FC (@SpencerOwen) March 9, 2017
Contigo aprendí a amar este deporte. Gracias por tantos buenos momentos / I learnt with you to love football. Thnx for a lot of good moments pic.twitter.com/DaHdEJZMH1
— Fernando Torres (@Torres) March 9, 2017
So lucky for sharing it with you in 3 different teams!! Thanks for everything “manoplas”!! LEGEND! #GraciasXabi https://t.co/ozN4FcvzIN
— Pepe Reina (@PReina25) March 9, 2017
We lived and enjoyed your football. #GraciasXabi pic.twitter.com/Bk0lnZvmKA
— Thiago Alcantara (@Thiago6) March 9, 2017
????@XabiAlonso: A true champion. pic.twitter.com/46Rec97lxb
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 9, 2017
The most Xabi Alonso way to announce your retirement. What a dude, Daniel Craig’s successor next maybe ? https://t.co/g3fWvMGpR2
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) March 9, 2017
Fantastic player. Great person. #XabiAlonso #MiaSanMia https://t.co/8wtJHSzDn4
— Thomas Müller (@esmuellert_) March 9, 2017
Great player and good friend of mine. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the time after your outstanding career @XabiAlonso ?? #AllTheBest #Memories pic.twitter.com/wfDe5vkTqe
— Sami Khedira (@SamiKhedira) March 9, 2017
? Uno de la Real… Eskerrik asko, @XabiAlonso pic.twitter.com/MDdK5predg
— Real Sociedad Fútbol (@RealSociedad) March 9, 2017