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SPAIN - Player Profile |
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14 Xabi Alonso
Xabi Alonso came through the youth ranks at Real Sociedad and made his debut there in the 1999/2000 season. He was a key figure in Sociedad’s second-place La Liga finish in the 2003 season, prompting a big-money move to Liverpool.
Alonso made his Reds debut August 29, 2004 and his first goal came from a free-kick on October 16 that same year.
In Liverpool's memorable Champions League Final comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005, the Spaniard played a key role, scoring the third goal in Liverpool’s revival from a saved penalty.
After establishing himself as an integral member at Anfield, the top European clubs came sniffing for his services and, at the start of the 2009/10 season, he joined Real Madrid in a £30-million deal.
Alonso has also established himself as a key member of the Spanish national side and played a key role off the bench in his country’s Euro 2008 success, opening up defences with his clever movement off the ball and excellent range of passing.
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Roberto Carlos walks off the pitch |
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