Xabi Alonso announces retirement at the end of this season

The Spanish midfielder decided to hang up his boots and end his career after finishing the current season with Bayern.

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Alonso lifts the 2005 Champions League trophy, the first major title of his professional career. Photo: Liverpool Echo.

"Lived football. Loved football. Goodbye to the beautiful game," Xabi Alonso wrote on Twitter and posted a photo of him waving.

During his career, Xabi Alonso won titles at Liverpool, Real and Bayern. This midfielder was also a hero during the golden period of the Spanish national team with two championships, Euro 2008, 2012, and World Cup 2010.

"It wasn't an easy decision, but I believe the time has come," Alonso told Bayern TV. "I've always believed it's better to retire early than too late. I feel like I'm still playing well, but it's the right time to stop."

Alonso's quiet style of play means he doesn't get as much attention as his midfield teammates Steven Gerrard, Xavi, Iniesta and Modric. However, Alonso has always proven his importance at every club he has played for. The midfielder is considered a balance between defence and attack. Alonso's powerful weapons are his accurate long passes and his ability to shoot from distance.

Bayern will be Alonso's last club. Photo: Reuters.

From Sociedad, Alonso joined Liverpool in 2004 and was part of the team that won the 2005 Champions League with a comeback against Milan in the "magical night in Istanbul". At Anfield, Alonso also won an FA Cup, a European Super Cup and an English Community Shield.

Returning home to Real, Alonso won the Champions League for the second time as well as winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. After leaving Real, Alonso was successful with Bayern, winning two consecutive Bundesliga titles. The 35-year-old midfielder recently helped the German team reach the Champions League quarter-finals after crushing Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate.

Alonso lifts the 2014 World Cup trophy. Photo: PA.

Alonso played 114 times for Spain, scoring 16 goals and playing an important role in a hat-trick of major trophies, including Euro 2008, 2012 and the 2010 World Cup. Alonso last played for Spain at the 2014 World Cup.

This is the second Bayern veteran to announce his retirement at the end of the season. Earlier last month, captain Philipp Lahm made a similar announcement after the match against Wolfsburg in the National Cup./.

According to VNE