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Xabi Alonso to retire at the season's end

Davis VanOpdorp
March 9, 2017

Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso has said that he will call it quits when the season comes to a close. It will bring an end to an 18-year career in which he collected 16 trophies.

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Bundesliga | Xabi Alonso vom FC Bayern München
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Gebert

Xavi Alonso announced Bayern Munich's television channel that he will retire after the season.

"It was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right moment [to retire]. I always wanted to retire too early rather than too late. I still feel good, but I believe it is the right time," the 35-year-old Alonso told "fcbayern.tv." 

The Spanish midfielder is in his third season with Bayern Munich after joining from Real Madrid in August of 2014. He signed a one-year contract extension in December of 2015, which runs out at the end of this season.

He is the second Bayern player to announce his retirement in 2017. Club captain Philipp Lahmalso said he would call it quits after Bayern's victory over Wolfsburg last month, which put them through to the quarterfinals of the German Cup 

Alonso may go down as one of the best Spanish midfielders ever after helping the country win two European championships and its first World Cup. He has also won two Champions League titles, three league titles and four cup titles with Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern.