Career Timeline of Xabi Alonso: Major Achievements and Milestones
Discover the career path of Xabi Alonso, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Xabi Alonso is a Spanish football manager and former player, widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Known for his exceptional passing ability, he enjoyed a successful playing career. Currently, he is considered one of the most promising young managers in the sport. He most recently managed Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.
6 hours ago : Xabi Alonso's Style: Madrid's Defense, Association, and Pressure; Aiming to Recover Real Madrid's Legacy
Xabi Alonso's potential return to Real Madrid brings anticipation of a tactical shift. His style includes a three-defender system, enhanced team association, and sustained pressure. He aims to recover Real Madrid's legacy.
1961: Return to Segunda División
In 1961, Real Sociedad B's was last season in the Segunda División.
1981: Real Sociedad won the league
In 1981, Real Sociedad had last won the league, before their performance in 2002.
1993: Bayer Leverkusen's last DFB Pokal before 2024
In 1993, Bayer Leverkusen last won DFB Pokal, before Xabi Alonso helped them win it in 2024.
December 1999: First Senior Appearance
In December 1999, Xabi Alonso made his first senior appearance for Real Sociedad against Logroñés in a Copa del Rey match.
2000: Sent to Eibar on Loan
At the beginning of the 2000-01 season, Javier Clemente sent Xabi Alonso to Segunda División team Eibar to gain experience.
January 2001: Appointed Team Captain of Real Sociedad
In January 2001, John Toshack, the new manager of Real Sociedad, appointed the 20-year-old Xabi Alonso as team captain.
December 2001: Debut for the Basque Country National Team
On December 29, 2001, Xabi Alonso made his debut for the Basque Country national team in a friendly against Ghana.
2001: Cemented Mid-Table Position
In 2001, under the tutelage of John Toshack, Xabi Alonso's captaincy marked a resurgence of form for Real Sociedad.
2002: Best League Performance Since 1981-82 Season
In 2002, Real Sociedad had their best league performance since the 1981-82 season, finishing second in La Liga. Xabi Alonso received the Best Spanish Player award by Spanish sports magazine Don Balón.
2002: Consistent La Liga Appearances
In 2002, Xabi Alonso appeared consistently in La Liga with 30 appearances and scored his first league goal, finishing with a season total of three.
2002: Runner-up in La Liga
In 2002, Xabi Alonso, playing for Real Sociedad, finished as runner-up in La Liga.
2002: Real Sociedad record
In 2002, playing for Real Sociedad, Xabi Alonso helped the team set a new club record in terms of points gathered, while finishing in second position.
April 2003: International Debut for Spain
In April 2003, Xabi Alonso made his international debut for Spain.
April 2003: First Call-Up for Spain National Team
On April 30, 2003, Xabi Alonso was first called up for the Spain national football team by manager Iñaki Sáez for a friendly against Ecuador, aged 21. He started in the 4–0 win.
2003: Champions League and League Struggles
In 2003, Xabi Alonso and Real Sociedad participated in the Champions League, but struggled in La Liga, finishing 15th.
August 2004: Premier League Debut
In August 2004, Xabi Alonso made his Premier League debut for Liverpool against Bolton Wanderers. Later that month, he scored his first goal for the team from a free kick against Fulham.
August 2004: Agreed Terms with Liverpool
On August 20, 2004, Real Sociedad announced a deal worth £10.7 million with Liverpool, and Xabi Alonso agreed to terms with the Merseyside team.
2004: Moved to Liverpool
In 2004, Xabi Alonso moved to Liverpool for £10.5 million.
2004: Represented Spain at Euro 2004
2005: Continued First Team Presence
In 2005, Xabi Alonso was ever-present in the first team for Liverpool, largely avoiding injuries that had marred his first season at the club.
September 2006: Goal from His Own Half
On September 20, 2006, Alonso scored a goal from his own half in a 2–0 Premiership win against Newcastle United.
2006: Represented Spain at 2006 World Cup
In 2006, Xabi Alonso represented Spain at the 2006 World Cup.
June 2007: Signed Five-Year Contract with Liverpool
On June 8, 2007, Xabi Alonso signed a five-year contract with Liverpool, expressing his special feelings for the club and supporters.
December 2007: Return from Injury
In December 2007, Xabi Alonso returned from injury for Liverpool, facing increased competition in midfield from Javier Mascherano and Lucas.
January 2008: 100th League Appearance
On January 12, 2008, Xabi Alonso made his 100th league appearance for Liverpool in a match against Middlesbrough.
2008: Transfer Saga and Fan Support
In 2008, Liverpool pursued Gareth Barry, potentially replacing Xabi Alonso, which unsettled Alonso. Despite the drawn-out transfer saga, the fans' support restored his spirits.
2008: Liverpool record
In 2008, playing for Liverpool, Xabi Alonso helped the team set a new club record in terms of points gathered, while finishing in second position.
August 2009: Move to Real Madrid
On August 5, 2009, Xabi Alonso completed his £30 million move to Real Madrid, reportedly due to differences with Rafael Benítez. This was a decision that his teammate Steven Gerrard was "devastated" by.
2009: 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup
In 2009 at the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, Spain were eliminated in the semi-finals by the United States. Alonso scored a free kick in the 107th minute of the third-place play-off against South Africa to win the game.
2009: Moved to Real Madrid
In 2009, Xabi Alonso moved to Real Madrid in a deal worth £30 million.
February 2010: First Goal for Real Madrid
On February 21, 2010, Xabi Alonso scored his first goal for Real Madrid, a penalty against Villarreal in a 6–2 win.
2010: 2010 World Cup Victory
In 2010, Xabi Alonso started every game for Spain during the tournament, helping his side to lift their first World Cup trophy. He received a "Kung fu-style" kick to the chest from Nigel de Jong in the final.
September 2011: 100th Official Game for Real Madrid
On September 21, 2011, Xabi Alonso played his 100th official game for Real Madrid in a 0–0 draw against Racing de Santander.
December 2012: Appearance for Basque Country
On December 29, 2012, Xabi Alonso appeared for the Basque Country national team in a 6–1 victory over Bolivia.
2013: Analysis of Playing Style
In a 2013 article for The Guardian, Jonathan Wilson described Xabi Alonso's playing style as a creative interpreter of the holding midfield role, focusing on ball movement and long passes.
January 2014: Contract Extension with Real Madrid
On January 8, 2014, Xabi Alonso signed a contract extension with Real Madrid, which would have kept him at the club until 2016.
August 2014: Retirement from International Football
On August 27, 2014, Xabi Alonso retired from international football.
August 2014: Move to Bayern Munich
On August 29, 2014, Xabi Alonso moved to Bayern Munich on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
September 2014: Record for Most Passes Completed
On September 27, 2014, in the match against 1. FC Köln, Xabi Alonso broke the record for most passes completed in a Bundesliga game, with 196.
2014: Joined Bayern Munich
In 2014, Xabi Alonso joined German club Bayern Munich.
2014: 2014 FIFA World Cup
In 2014, Xabi Alonso played in the FIFA World Cup, where Spain were eliminated in the first round. He scored a penalty against the Netherlands but was later substituted.
February 2015: 100th Champions League Appearance and Red Card
On February 17, 2015, in his 100th Champions League appearance, Xabi Alonso was sent off for a second bookable offence in a 0–0 draw against Shakhtar Donetsk.
December 2015: New Contract with Bayern
On December 18, 2015, Xabi Alonso signed a new contract with Bayern Munich, keeping him at the club until 2017.
2016: Season end
At the end of the 2016 Xabi Alonso said goodbye to his career.
March 2017: Retirement Announcement
On March 9, 2017, Xabi Alonso confirmed via Twitter his retirement from the game at the end of the 2016–17 season.
2018: Coaching Role at Real Madrid
In 2018, while completing his UEFA Elite coaching course, Xabi Alonso returned to Real Madrid where he assumed a role coaching the Real Madrid U14s.
June 2019: Appointment as Real Sociedad B Manager
On June 1, 2019, Xabi Alonso was appointed manager of Segunda División B club Real Sociedad B.
2019: Appointed Manager of Real Sociedad B
In 2019, Xabi Alonso was appointed as manager of Real Sociedad B.
May 2021: Promotion to Segunda División
In May 2021, Xabi Alonso's second season at Sanse saw the club win promotion to the Segunda División, following a play-off win against Algeciras.
August 2021: First Game in Segunda División
On August 14, 2021, Xabi Alonso won his first game in the second tier as manager, 1–0 at home against Leganés.
May 2022: Departure from Real Sociedad B
On May 25, 2022, Real Sociedad announced that Xabi Alonso would leave Sanse at the end of the season, with the side already relegated from the second level.
October 2022: Appointment as Bayer Leverkusen Head Coach
In October 2022, Xabi Alonso was appointed as the head coach of Bayer Leverkusen until June 2024, replacing Gerardo Seoane. At the time, the team was second from bottom after eight Bundesliga games.
2022: Named Head Coach of Bayer Leverkusen
In 2022, Xabi Alonso was named head coach of Bayer Leverkusen.
May 2023: Confirmation of Second Season with Leverkusen
In May 2023, Xabi Alonso confirmed that he would remain as manager of Bayer Leverkusen for a second season, despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
2023: New Player Signings and Tactical Changes
During the summer transfer window of 2023, Xabi Alonso signed Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Matěj Kovář and implemented a 3–4–3 formation.
2023: DFB-Pokal Title Claimed
In 2023, Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen claimed the 2023–24 DFB-Pokal on 25 May, defeating 1. FC Kaiserslautern 1–0 in the final to complete a domestic double.
March 2024: Alonso Reaffirms Commitment to Leverkusen
On March 29, 2024, Xabi Alonso reaffirmed his commitment to Bayer Leverkusen, stating he would complete his contract despite interest from Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
May 2025: Announcement of Departure from Leverkusen
In May 2025, Alonso announced he would leave Leverkusen at the end of the season, with rumours of him replacing Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid for the 2025–26 season.
May 2025: Appointment as Real Madrid Manager
In May 2025, Real Madrid confirmed the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their manager for the next three seasons, starting from June 2025.
June 2025: Real Madrid Manager Appointment
In June 2025, Xabi Alonso will become the manager of La Liga club Real Madrid.
June 2025: Start Date as Real Madrid Manager
June 1, 2025 is the date Xabi Alonso started his role as manager for Real Madrid.
2026: Alonso's Contract Extension
Xabi Alonso signed a contract extension to manage Bayer Leverkusen until 2026.
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