Xabi Alonso/import

Xabier "Xabi" Alonso Olano (born 25 November 1981) is a Spanish footballer.
Alonso began his career at Real Sociedad, the main team of his home region Gipuzkoa. After a brief loan period at SD Eibar, he returned to Sociedad where then-manager John Toshack appointed Alonso as his team captain. Alonso succeeded in the role, taking Real Sociedad to second place in the 2002–03 season. He moved to Liverpool in August 2004 for £10.5 million. He won the UEFA Champions League in his first season at the club, scoring the equalising goal in the Final. The following season, he won the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield. He moved to Real Madrid for the start of the 2009–10 season in a deal worth around £30 million.
He made his international debut for Spain in April 2003 in a 4–0 victory against Ecuador. While playing for Spain, Alonso has won the Euro 2008, the Euro 2012 and the 2010 World Cup, and he has also represented his country in the Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. On 23 June 2012, Alonso won his 100th cap for Spain in the quarter-final of the Euro 2012 against France: he celebrated the occasion by scoring both of Spain's goals to send them into the semi-finals.
==External links==
*Profile on Realmadrid.com
*BDFutbol profile
*National team data
*2010 FIFA World Cup profile
*LFCHistory.net Profile
*Profile at BBC Sport
*Profile at ESPN
*Transfermarkt profile
 
Category:1981 births
Category:Spanish footballers
Category:Basque footballers
Category:Association football midfielders
Category:La Liga footballers
Category:Segunda División footballers
Category:Tercera División footballers
Category:Real Sociedad footballers
Category:SD Eibar footballers
Category:Real Madrid C.F. players
Category:Premier League players
Category:Liverpool F.C. players
Category:Spain youth international footballers
Category:Spain under-21 international footballers
Category:Spain international footballers
Category:FIFA Century Club
Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players
Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players
Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players
Category:2009 FIFA Confederations Cup players
Category:2010 FIFA World Cup players
Category:UEFA Euro 2012 players
Category:UEFA European Football Championship-winning players
Category:FIFA World Cup-winning players