In August 2004, Alonso was sold to Liverpool FC for £10.7 million as part of Rafa Benitez's Anfield revolution. He was instrumental as the side progressed to the Champions League final in Istanbul against strong favourites AC Milan.
The 2005 Champions League final was Alonso's high point as a Liverpool player. The Merseysiders went in at half time 3-0 down to a rampant Milan side. But with goals from Steven Gerrard and Vladimir Smicer they pulled the score back to 3-2. A penalty was awarded and Xabi stepped up to take it. Dida saved the kick, only for Alonso to fire in the rebound. The match finished 3-3 after extra time and Liverpool won on penalties to complete the most astonishing comeback ever in a Champions League final.
The following year Alonso was part of the victorious Liverpool side that won the FA Cup.
In August 2009 Alonso completed a £24.3 million move to Real Madrid. In the 2011-12 season he was part of Jose Mourinho's side that won La Liga and toppled arch-rivals Barcelona from their lofty perch. In 2014 won the Champions League with the club, the famous Decima, or tenth cup.
That summer he moved to Bayern Munich to play for Pep Guardiola, and won the Bundesliga in his first season.
Alonso was part of the Spain side that won first Euro 2008 in Austria/Switzerland, the side that beat Holland to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the Euro 2012 side that beat Italy to become the first ever nation to win three major trophies in a row.
