Football fans loved the simple message Xabi Alonso used on his social media channels to announce his retirement from football.“Lived it. Loved it. Farewell beautiful game,” Alonso wrote, adding a picture of himself, boots in his hand, waving goodbye.It marks the end of an incredible career that included titles in Spain and Germany, two Champions League victories, two European Championships and one World Cup win.
You really couldn’t ask for a much better CV.
The tributes quickly poured in for a player who is loved by fans, teammates and coaches. Steven Gerrard’s was among the best.
Jamie Carragher tweeted: “Not a bad career past paster!,” but saved his proper tribute for his Daily Mail column.
Alonso's departure hurt Liverpool
Carragher went into detail about why Alonso left Liverpool in 2009 and how much of an impact it had on morale in the dressing room and the club’s performance.
“I had no issue with Xabi wanting to join Real - for Spanish players that is the pinnacle - but I couldn't understand why [Rafa] Benitez didn't hold out an olive branch to sort things out,” Carragher wrote.
“Benitez had his best team in five years at Anfield. We were close to having a team that could win the Premier League and perhaps reach another Champions League final. Why did he have to continue the fight with Xabi? He had won the initial battle by getting the upturn in his form.
“The team suffered in what proved to be Benitez's final year. Alberto Aquilani, Xabi's replacement, arrived from Roma with an injury - he didn't play until October 2009 - and he wasn't good enough to fill the void. The way our team functioned broke down.
“At a basic level, I would give the ball to Xabi, he would pass it on to Stevie and the final ball would go to Fernando Torres. It was quick passing, Xabi's impeccable touch made it all come together, but Aquilani was never able to have the same input. Xabi's departure affected everyone.”
Great memories
Carragher still has great memories of the time he played with Alonso, though, and none are better than the 2005 Champions League final.
Alonso phoned Carragher after Euro 2008 win
The ex-Liverpool defender also told a brilliant story about how Alonso called him after Spain’s Euro 2008 win to remind Carragher about the time the defender said La Roja couldn’t win a major tournament.
Carragher continued: “I used to tell him when he first arrived at Liverpool that Spain would never win anything because they lacked power and stamina in tournaments and, in the 2006 World Cup, that point was proven when France beat them 3-1.
“My words, however, would come back to haunt me. In 2008, when they won the European Championship in Austria, I got a phone call late in the night following their 1-0 victory over Germany to begin a spell that changed football for a generation.
“‘Carra! Carra!’ it was Xabi, in party mode, on the end of the line. ‘You said we'd win nothing!’
“He then put on a fake Scouse accent: 'Spain? Spain! Can't run! Can't run! You can f*** off!’”
Xabi Alonso doing a Scouse accent? Now that we’d love to hear.