XABI ALONSO has announced he will retire from football at the end of the season.
Bayern munich star Alonso had been considering his future for the last few months and has now finally reached the decision to hang up his boots.
The 35-year-old announced his decision with a classy tweet which showed him waving goodbye to football just days after he starred in the Bayern midfield at Arsenal.
In a simple message to his 10,9million followers, he wrote: “Lived it. Loved it. Farewell beautiful game.”
Alonso has gone down in Anfield history for his part in the Champions League victory over AC Milan in 2005.
Alonso arrived at Liverpool in a £10.5million deal from Real Sociedad in August 2004, and won the Champions League in his first season.
The cultured midfielder scored the crucial equalising goal in Istanbul as the Reds came back from 3-0 down at half-time to beat Milan on penalties.
Alonso was a huge favourite with the Anfield crowd and went on to win the FA Cup in 2006 as part of the side that beat West Ham on penalties in a thrilling final in Cardiff.
The midfielder continued his success after his £30million move to Real Madrid in 2009, helping the Spanish giants to a La Liga title in 2012 and Champions League glory in 2014.
[Sun UK]
