Xabi Alonso is a Spanish football coach and former professional player who is regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation. He has served as the head coach of Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
Born Name
Xabier Alonso Olano
Nick Name
Xabi
Xabi Alonso as seen during an event in 2018 (DONOSTIA KULTURA / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)
Sun Sign
Sagittarius
Born Place
Tolosa, Basque, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Nationality
Education
Xabi Alonso was 15 years old when he went to the Irish town of Kells, County Meath, on a school exchange program to learn English. During his time there, he played Gaelic Football.
Occupation
Football Coach, Former Professional Player
Family
Father – Miguel Ángel ‘Periko’ Alonso Oyarbide (Former football midfielder and manager who won La Liga twice in successive seasons with Real Sociedad and a third time after joining Barcelona)
Mother – Isabel Olano
Siblings – Mikel Alonso Olano (Older Brother) (Former footballer who played as a midfielder and spent most of his career at Real Sociedad), Jon (Brother) (Has worked as a football referee)
Position
Midfielder
Net Worth
According to CelebrityNetWorth.com, he has a net worth of $20 Million as of 2024.
Build
Athletic
Xabi Alonso (Right) and Dirk Kuyt as seen while playing for Liverpool in April 2007 (Agnieszka Mieszczak / Flickr / CC BY 2.0 DEED)
Height
6 ft or 183 cm
Weight
79 kg or 174 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
Xabi Alonso has dated –
Nagore Aranburu (2009-Present) – He tied the knot with Nagore Aranburu in the year 2009 and the duo has been blessed with 3 children – a son named Jon (b. March 2008) and two daughters named Ane (b. March 2010) and Emma (b. December 2013). At the time of the birth of their son, he decided to stay at his wife’s side as she gave birth and said, “It was a little frustrating to miss the match against Inter but I have to be with my family at times like these.”
Race / Ethnicity
Hispanic
Xabi Alonso is of Spanish Basque descent.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Hazel
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Deep-set eyes
Brand Endorsements
Through social media, Xabi Alonso has either endorsed or promoted brands such as Top Eleven.
Xabi Alonso as seen while playing against The New Saints in the Champions League in July 2005 (Mr. Phillip Chambers / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.5 DEED)
Xabi Alonso Facts
In December 1999, he made his first senior appearance with Real Sociedad in a Copa del Rey match against Logroñés.
He was 21 years old when he was first called up for the Spain national football team for a friendly against Ecuador on April 30, 2003.
He was part of the Spanish squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and on June 14, 2006, he scored Spain’s first goal of the tournament, his first international goal, against Ukraine.
On August 5, 2009, Xabi Alonso signed a £30 million deal with Real Madrid and he was given the number 22 jersey.
He signed a contract extension with Real Madrid on January 8, 2014.
He retired from international football on August 27, 2014.
Xabi Alonso moved to Bayern Munich on a two-year deal on August 29, 2014, for an undisclosed fee. The next day, he made his debut with the team starting in a 1–1 draw at Schalke 04.
On October 18, 2014, he scored his first goal for Bayern Munich which was a free kick in a 6–0 win over Werder Bremen. He then signed a new contract with the club on December 18, 2015, which would keep him at the club until 2017.
On June 1, 2019, he was appointed as manager of Segunda División B club Real Sociedad B.
Xabi Alonso went on to criticize British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s economic policy in 2009. He was particularly critical of the devalued pound sterling and the 50% tax rate and warned that it has weakened English football and could drive top players away from the United Kingdom.
He has been a supporter of Meath Gaelic football.
He is a major Liverpool fan and declared himself the same even while playing at Real Madrid. In 2011, he was quoted in The Times Online as saying, “I am still a Liverpool fan and will be forever, absolutely” and said that he would raise his Liverpool-born son as a Red supporter.
Featured Image by DONOSTIA KULTURA / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED
