So, come next season, we won’t have the pleasure of watching Xabi Alonso play football ever again.

The Spanish midfielder has had an incredible career with club and country and has been an absolute joy to watch.

Alonso has won league titles in Spain with Real Madrid and in Germany with Bayern Munich, as well as two Champions Leagues with Madrid and Liverpool.

He’s also helped Spain dominate the international scene with two European Championships and a World Cup.

While Alonso has been at the top of European football for the past decade, he really shot to fame at Liverpool.

The Reds signed him from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2004 and he soon formed an incredible partnership with Steven Gerrard at Anfield.

Alonso’s passing ability, coupled with Gerrard’s energy and goalscoring skills helped Rafa Benitez’s side win the Champions League in the midfielder’s first campaign at the club.

Alonso went on to play five seasons at Liverpool but could only add an FA Cup to their Champions League triumph - although they came very close to winning the league in the 2008/09 season.

But, despite only winning two trophies on Merseyside, the relationship he formed with Gerrard went beyond the pitch.

That could be identified with Gerrard’s emotional Instagram tribute to his former teammate following his retirement announcement.

It read: “Xavi you are pure quality. A class act on the pitch and a gentlemen off it. It was a pleasure to play alongside you and I missed you every day from the moment you left the reds. Congratulations on your perfect career and good luck to you and your family In the future. #legend”.

We’re not crying, we’ve just got something in our eye…