Xabi Alonso

[dom9]

I love how Alonso has his full name on the CL Final scoreboard!

What a ****ing player, can you imagine our attack and midfield if we'd kept our best players? Damn...

Coutinho -- Torres -- Suarez

------------ Gerrard

-- Mascherano --- Alonso

You've missed out Peter Beardsley and Ian Rush.

[RedReet]

I think it`s both. They realize they will have to change their spending habits, and they don`t know any other life that the training/match regime set by the club. I (think) I read somewhere that for ex-professionals (might have been many sports) the chance of getting divorced within a couple of years after retiring was very high. Having to spend more time together apparently isn`t good for the marriage, especially when the shopping gets hurt as well.

Well I accept both can be true, which is why I asked for clarification from Red G before replying. When bored yesterday I was prepared to argue that any footballer/person capable of blowing the fortune they earn in the modern game will still head for bankruptcy, regardless of if they double their career earnings in a few years abroad. Equallym if they are likely to struggle to adapt to normal life, going through the upheaval of moving a young family thousands of mile away from their home for the sake of a few years isn't going to help either, I imagine. Playing some local lower level football may be a better idea, if it's the routine they want to keep.

Anyway, that was yesterday. Every footballer's circumstances are different and they all aren't motivated by money. Gerrard for example, didn't just join Galaxy for the money, but equally it was a shame to see how his final few years panned out over there. As I already said, I don't blame the footballers that do, it's just nice to see Xabi buck the current trend.

[Saveloy]

You've missed out Peter Beardsley and Ian Rush.

[Vermilion]

He was ultimately the undoing of Rafa. It was a ludicrous decision to sell him.

Like it was ludicrous to sell Suarez, or Spurs to sell Bale, or Utd Ronaldo.

When Madrid or Barca come knocking, the player decides their own future.

[red g]

Like it was ludicrous to sell Suarez, or Spurs to sell Bale, or Utd Ronaldo.

When Madrid or Barca come knocking, the player decides their own future.

Well Carra blames Rafa....

Jamie Carragher says the departure of Xabi Alonso in 2009 was “pivotal” to Liverpool’s decline and he still cannot understand why Rafa Benitez “had to continue the fight” with Alonso.

The 35-year-old midfielder this week announced his intention to retire in the summer, bringing the curtain down on an 18-year professional career during which he won the World Cup, European Championship twice and Champions League twice.

Alonso spent five years at Liverpool between 2004 and 2009 and was loved by the Anfield fans, who were gutted to see the Spain star depart for Real Madrid.

Alonso’s relationship with Benitez turned sour in his final year at the club after Rafa tried to sell him and sign Gareth Barry, who was then at Aston Villa.

Carragher though still cannot believe that Benitez wanted rid of Alonso and believes it was a “pivotal moment” in the club’s decline.

“He was a strong character, loved by the fans, so when Benitez wanted to sell him in 2008 there was uproar and there was an episode during a pre-season game with Lazio at Anfield when the Kop sang ‘You can stick your Gareth Barry up your a***’ about his potential replacement,” Carragher wrote in his Daily Mail column.

“Rafa’s intention was to offload Xabi for £30million and buy Barry for half that price. The appeal of Barry was that he was English and could play in two or three positions. But, believe it or not, only Juventus and Arsenal were keen to take Xabi.

“When it became clear those interested in Xabi were only prepared to pay £15m — and Aston Villa wanted £30m for Barry — the club pulled the plug. I, along with a lot of others, was delighted but there’s no doubt the intervention caused problems, with Rafa and Xabi, and Rafa and the board.

“It was a pivotal moment. Xabi stayed and his form surpassed the level of his spectacular first year. We finished runners-up to Manchester United in 2009 but when Real Madrid arrived on the scene for him, I became fearful he would go as the wounds of 12 months earlier had not healed.

“This is where I have my biggest problem. I had no issue with Xabi wanting to join Real — for Spanish players that is the pinnacle — but I couldn’t understand why Benitez didn’t hold out an olive branch to sort things out.

“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.

“What’s more, Xabi was under contract, so Liverpool didn’t have to sell. They proved that the same summer when not letting Javier Mascherano join Barcelona. But the writing was on the wall for Xabi and things were never really the same after he left.

“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.”

http://www.teamtalk.com/news/carragher-why-did-he-have-to-continue-the-fight-with-xabi

[Vermilion]

So, ignore all that happened previously, imagine it never even happened, and then Madrid came in for Alonso when they did.

Would he have choosen to go? i believe he would, i have absolutely no doubt about it.

We all know he wanted to reduce his tax bill, Madrid gave him that opportunity.

[baitman]

...Alberto Aquilani, Xabi’s replacement...[/url]

ffs, just managed to obliterate this from my mind... now this

[Bender]

Xabi the Lfc Legend..... Ancelotti .....
[ame]https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/840582087019188228[/ame]

[baitman]

remember this

[badpiggy]

Xabi the Lfc Legend..... Ancelotti .....
https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/840582087019188228

2 class acts who totally stand out from the general festering cuntfest of huge football clubs. Winners who aren't paranoid whingers

[Darkon]

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/liverpool/story/3213454/xabi-alonso-announces-plans-to-become-a-manager

Xabi announcing his plans to become a manager - could see him doing well if his player style is anything to judge by.

[EwarWoo]

Earn his spurs for a while then come take over from Klopp

[The_weatherman]

I reckon Gerrard is being groomed for that, whether we like it or not.

[Irishnev]

He just seems to ooze class and I think he'll be massively successful as a manager- he seems similar to Pep tbh. Hopefully a future manager here.

[Vermilion]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCdmmBEaekM"]Xabi Alonso Reveals His Desire To Manage Liverpool - YouTube[/ame]

edit: Seriously, Subtitles ?