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Full name Xabier Alonso Olano
Date of birth 25 November 1981 (1981-11-25) (age 30)
Place of birth Tolosa, Spain
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Real Madrid
Number 22
Senior career*
Years Team Apps? (Gls)?
1999–2004 Real Sociedad 119 (9)
2000–2001 → SD Eibar (loan) 14 (0)
2004–2009 Liverpool 138 (15)
2009– Real Madrid 32 (3)

Alonso began his career at Real Sociedad, and after a brief loan period at SD Eibar returned to the La Liga club. John Toshack appointed Alonso as his team captain and Alonso succeeded in the role, taking Real Socieded to second place in the 2002–03 season. The Spaniard moved to Liverpool in August 2004 for ￡10.5 million. He won the UEFA Champions League in his first season at the club. The following season he won the FA Cup, and subsequently also the FA Community Shield. He moved to Real Madrid for the start of the 2009–10 season, in a deal worth around ￡30 million.

The summer transfer window at Real Sociedad saw the arrival of Alonso's childhood friend Mikel Arteta. Arteta was ecstatic at the prospect of partnering Alonso in midfield but his excitement was short lived. Alonso was not picked for Real Sociedad's pre-season friendlies, signalling that an offer by Liverpool was being treated seriously. The Basque side announced on 20 August 2004 that they had made a deal worth ￡10.7 million with Liverpool and Alonso had agreed terms with the Merseyside team. Alonso did not lament the fact that a move to Real Madrid had not materialised. Instead he concentrated on integrating with the new Spanish contingent at Liverpool under the guidance of, ex-Valencia coach, Rafael Benítez.

Despite the events of the summer, Alonso made a confident start to the season and both his peers and the press praised his strength of character, citing his influence as a factor in the team's strong opening to the season. Alonso's importance to the team was further underlined when he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory against Chelsea, making Liverpool the first away team to win at Stamford Bridge in over four years. Statistical analysis reflected Alonso's good form: on 11 December figures from Opta revealed that he was the first Premier League player to complete 1000 successful passes in the season. His last goal for Liverpool came in their match against Hull, scoring a volley after his own free kick hit the Hull City wall.

Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Europe Total
2009–10 Real Madrid La Liga 32 3 0 0 - 7 0 39 3
Total Spain 165 13 2 0 - 15 1 182 14
England 141 15 10 2 4 0 48 2 203 19
Career Total 303 28 12 2 4 0 62 3 381 33