Few players in the modern era displayed the effortless style and understanding of the game quite like Xabi Alonso.
Having won almost all there is to win as a player, Alonso is now trying his hand in management and will make his managerial debut in LaLiga Segunda Division as Real Sociedad B take on CD Leganes tonight
Here’s five things you may not know about Xabi Alonso.
Born in Tolosa, in the Basque Country up on Spain’s northern coast, Xabi Alonso comes from a footballing family.
His father Periko Alonso was part of the iconic Real Sociedad side which won two LaLiga Santander titles in the 1980s.
His brothers are also immersed in the beautiful game. Mikel Alonso played many years in LaLiga as a midfielder, for CD Tenerife and their hometown Real Sociedad among others. His younger brother Jon Alonso, meanwhile, is a referee!
And believe it or not, he lived on the same street as fellow midfielder Mikel Arteta as a child!
Xabi made his LaLiga debut aged just 18 for the club closest to his heart: Real Sociedad.
He went on to play 114 matches for the club, scoring nine goals, during which time he quickly established himself as one of the brightest young talents in world football. He was also a key player in the club’s historic 2002/03 season, in which La Real fell just two points short of winning the LaLiga Santander title.
After a trophy-laden stint in England with Liverpool, Xabi returned to LaLiga in 2009 with Real Madrid. Once again, he’d go down in club history, making 159 appearances and scoring four goals across five seasons.
In 2012, he won the trophy he’d been waiting so long for, the LaLiga Santander title, in a truly record-breaking season for the club.
After retirement, Xabi returned to his roots. Having been raised within the Real Sociedad youth academy, he accepted a post as coach of the club’s prestigious reserve side: Real Sociedad B, also known as Sanse.
Taking over with the team in Spain’s third tier, he took just two seasons lead Sanse into LaLiga SmartBank – where they’ll play this season.
Outside of football, Xabi spends his free time fishing and enjoying the music of Spanish singer-songwriter Quique Gonzalez.