Xavi

Xavi warming-up for Barcelona
Personal information
Full name	Xavier Hernández i Creus
Date of birth	(1980-01-25) 25 January 1980 (age 32)
Place of birth	Terrassa, Spain
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Barcelona
Number	6
Youth career
1991–1997	Barcelona
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1997–2000	Barcelona B	61	(4)
1998–	Barcelona	414	(48)
National team‡
1997	Spain U17	10	(2)
1997–1998	Spain U18	10	(0)
1999	Spain U20	6	(2)
1998–2001	Spain U21	25	(7)
2000	Spain U23	6	(2)
2000–	Spain	108	(10)
1998–	Catalonia	9	(2)
Honours Competitor for  Spain Men's Football Silver 2000 Sydney Team Competition
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13 May 2012. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 2 March 2012

Xavier Hernández i Creus (born 25 January 1980), commonly known as Xavi Hernández or simply Xavi (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈʃaβi]), is a Spanish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for La Liga club FC Barcelona, where he has spent his entire 15-year career.

Xavi came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, at the age of 11. He made his first-team debut in 18 August 1998. Since then he has played 680 matches, scored 77 goals and made more than 160 assists for above 50 players. He was an integral part of the sextuple-winning Barcelona side in 2009, the only time which a club has achieved six titles in a year.

Since making his international debut in 2000, he has been capped 108 times for the Spanish national team, with whom he won UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. He was named Player of the Tournament by UEFA at UEFA Euro 2008.^[2]

Xavi has received five Ballon d'Or nominations, and finished on third place in 2009, 2010 and 2011. He won the World Soccer Player of the Year in 2010.

Early life[link]

Born in Terrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia,^[1] Xavi is a product of Barcelona's La Masia youth system and has been a regular at Camp Nou since the age of 11. He made his way through the youth and reserve teams and was a key member of Jordi Gonzalvo's FC Barcelona B team that won promotion to the Second Division.

Club career[link]

1998–2004[link]

His progression through the teams earned him a first team substitute appearance in a friendly match against Southampton on 12 May 1998^[3] and he made his competitive debut on 18 August 1998 in the Super Cup final, in which he scored against RCD Mallorca. His début in La Liga came against Valencia CF on 3 October 1998 in a 3–1 victory for Barcelona. Initially featuring intermittently both for the reserve and senior teams, Xavi scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Real Valladolid when Barcelona were 10th in the league. Sustained impressive performance meant that he became a key member of Louis van Gaal's title-winning team. Xavi finished his debut season with 26 matches played and winning the Spanish League. He also was named 1999 La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year.

Xavi became Barcelona's principal playmaker, after an injury to Pep Guardiola in the 1999–00 season.

2004–2008[link]

He was named the vice-captain in the 2004–05 season and helping the Catalans to win Spanish League and Spanish Supercup. He was named La Liga Spanish Player of the Year in 2005.

In the 2005–06 season, Xavi tore the ligaments in his left knee in training; he was out of action for four months, missing a part of the season, but returned in April and was on the substitutes bench for the 2006 UEFA Champions League Final. He also win again Spanish League and Spanish Supercup.

2008–09 season[link]

He was a main part of Barcelona's treble and scored the 4th goal in the 4–1 win in the Copa del Rey 2008–09 final against Athletic Bilbao, with a free kick. In La Liga, among many games, one of the most significant is the 6–2 El Clásico victory vs Real Madrid on 2 May. He assisted 4 out of 6 goals (once to Puyol, once to Henry and twice to Messi). Finally, Xavi helped Barcelona win the 2009 Champions League Final versus Manchester United, which ended 2–0, assisting the second goal by passing the ball to Lionel Messi's header after 69 minutes. Xavi was voted "UEFA Champions League best midfielder" for his contribution during Barcelona's victorious 2008–09 UEFA Champions League campaign.^{[citation needed]} Xavi was La Liga's highest assisting player with 20 assists.^{[citation needed]} He was also the highest assisting player in the Champions League with 7 assists. Xavi earned 29 assists overall that season.^{[citation needed]}

Xavi is under contract to Barça until 2014 after extending his contract during the 2008–09 season. The new contract will make him one of the club's biggest earners, and entitle him to €7.5 million a year.^{[citation needed]}

2009–10 season[link]

Xavi (far left) playing for Barcelona against Real Madrid

During the 2009–10 season, journalists increasingly noted Xavi's contribution to the Barcelona side. For example:

"Quite simply the best player of all time. World class for several years now, it is the past three seasons in particular where the 30-year-old has been untouchable. Xavi’s passing is up there with Michel Platini, he creates countless goals with genius through balls while virtually never relinquishing possession."^[4]

In the 2009–10 season, Xavi again topped the assists table and provided both the assists in Barcelona's 2–0 victory against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. He was acclaimed the 2nd best player of Barcelona in a season-long voting as Barcelona won the league title with a record 99 points.^{[citation needed]} On 3 June 2010, the Madrid-based newspaper Marca awarded Xavi third place in the annual Trofeo Alfredo di Stéfano award for the best player in La Liga, behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.^[5]

2010–11 season[link]

On 9 June 2010, Xavi signed a new 4 year contract with the club, which may be automatically renewed up to 30 June 2016 based on number of games played.^[6] On 29 November he scored his third goal against arch-rivals Real Madrid in a 5–0 home win. On 18 December he scored another goal against RCD Espanyol in a 1–5 win. In the Champions League, Xavi scored a valuable goal against English side Arsenal during a home match in the UEFA Champions League that saw Barcelona passing through to the quarter-finals with an assist by teammate David Villa.

He was one of the three finalists for the 2010 FIFA Ballon d'Or, alongside Barcelona teammates Messi and Andrés Iniesta. He finished third on the vote behind Messi and Iniesta.^[7][8]

He narrowly defeated Lionel Messi to win Player of the Year designation from World Soccer Magazine.

On 2 January 2011, in a league match against Levante UD, Xavi made his 549th appearance for the club in all competitions, matching the record held by Migueli. Following this match Xavi is the player with most appearances with Barcelona of all time.^[9]

2011–12 season[link]

Xavi began the 2011–12 season in fine goalscoring form and seemed to grow in his influence of the team despite the long anticipated return of Cesc Fàbregas and the promotion of Thiago Alcântara to create added competition for places in Barca's star-studded midfield. He played a prominent part in the 1-2 defeat at home to Real Madrid and the 2-2 against Chelsea in the Champions League which effectively ended Barcelona's interest in two trophies within three days.

International career[link]

Xavi against Sweden at Euro 2008

Xavi's abilities on the football pitch have led his teams to numerous titles and placed him among the most decorated footballers of all time. The playmaker has won major international titles with Spain and FC Barcelona in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. His successes on the European stage include winning the UEFA European Football Championship and the UEFA Champions League (three times). Xavi is also a six time Liga BBVA Champion and played in the Barcelona side that won the famed unprecedented Spanish treble, which culminated in a record six trophies, the sextuple, in one calendar year.^[10] On 25 March 2011, Xavi earned his 100th cap for Spain in the 2–1 home win against the Czech Republic in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

He played for the nation at the 2000 Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008, 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

UEFA Euro 2008[link]

Xavi was named Euro 2008's player of the tournament after Spain defeated Germany 1–0 in the final. Xavi was dominant in midfield, making tackles, shaping attacks and driving Spain to their first silverware since the 1964 European Championships.

"We have chosen Xavi because he epitomizes the Spanish style of play. He was influential in the whole possession, passing and penetrating kind of game that Spain played," said Andy Roxburgh head of UEFA's technical committee.

• Semi-finals – Russia v Spain (0–3)

Xavi scored the first goal of Spain in the semi-final against Russia. His goal had stunned the Russians.

• Final – Germany v Spain (0–1)

Xavi made a perfectly weighted ball, rolled towards the German area, from which Torres scored the final winning goal.

2010 World Cup[link]

Xavi was named in Spain's squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, culminating in winning the World Cup title. The midfielder was a crucial player for Spain, finished with an 90 percent pass completion rate over the course of the tournament, completing 599 passes out of 669 passes attempted over all of Spain's seven games.^{[citation needed]}

He was able to provide the most number of passes and he crossed the ball inside the 18 yard box more than any other player performing in that tournament. For example, in the final he made 57 accurate forward half passes.^[11]

Xavi also covered a lot of distance on the pitch – 80.20 kilometres throughout the competitions, which average at approximately 11.5 kilometres per each game.^[12] In the final he covered a distance of almost 15 kilometres.^[13]

• Round of 16 – Spain v Portugal (1–0)

After a nifty backheel pass from Xavi Hernandez in the 63rd minute, David Villa had his shot with his left foot blocked by Eduardo, but then he put in the rebound with his right foot for the winning goal.^[14]

• Semi-finals – Germany v Spain (0–1)

Xavi snaps the corner out to the edge of the six-yard box, where Puyol crashes an immense header into the top-right corner.^[15]

International appearances[link]

Xavi takes the free kick against England in a friendly match

As of 14 December 2011^[16]

International goals[link]

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	26 March 2005	Estadio El Helmántico, Salamanca, Spain	China PR	2–0	3–0	Friendly
2.	6 September 2006	Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland	Northern Ireland	0–1	3–2	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
3.	11 October 2006	Nueva Condomina, Murcia, Spain	Argentina	1–0	2–1	Friendly
4.	12 September 2007	Estadio Carlos Tartiere, Oviedo, Spain	Latvia	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
5.	21 November 2007	Estadio Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain	Northern Ireland	1–0	1–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
6.	4 June 2008	Estadio El Sardinero, Santander, Spain	United States	1–0	1–0	Friendly
7.	26 June 2008	Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna, Austria	Russia	0–1	0–3	UEFA Euro 2008
8.	20 August 2008	Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark	Denmark	0–2	0–3	Friendly
9.	29 March 2011	S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas, Lithuania	Lithuania	0–1	1–3	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
10.	6 September 2011	Estadio Las Gaunas, Logroño, Spain	Liechtenstein	0–3	0–6	UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

Style of play[link]

Xavi's stake to claim as one of the best midfielders of his generation relies largely on his ability to find and exploit space. As said by Xavi himself: "That's what I do: look for spaces. All day. I'm always looking".^[17] Xavi's abnormally good vision, pinpoint accurate passing and world class ball control allow him to dictate the flow of play whilst rarely relinquishing possession. His ability to completely control some matches has earned him the sobriquet, "The Puppet Master".^[18][19]

Career statistics[link]

Xavi takes a corner during the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League

As of match played 26 May 2012.^[20][21]

Honours[link]

Barcelona[link]

• La Liga (6): 1998–99, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11; Runner-up 1999–00, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2011–12
• Copa del Rey (2): 2008–09, 2011–12; Runner-up 2010–11
• Supercopa de España (5): 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011; Runner-up 1998, 1999
• UEFA Champions League (3): 2005–06, 2008–09, 2010–11
• UEFA Super Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006
• FIFA Club World Cup (2): 2009, 2011; Runner-up 2006

Spain[link]

• FIFA World Cup: 2010
• UEFA European Football Championship: 2008
• FIFA World Youth Championship: 1999
• Summer Olympics: Silver medal 2000
• FIFA Confederations Cup: Third-place 2009

Individual[link]

• FIFA Ballon d'Or Third place: 2010, 2011
• Ballon d'Or Third place: 2009
• FIFA World Player of the Year Third place: 2009
• UEFA Best Player in Europe Award Second place: 2011
• World Soccer Player of the Year: 2010
• UEFA Champions League Midfielder of the Year: 2008–09
• IFFHS World's Best Playmaker: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 1999
• La Liga Spanish Player of the Year: 2005
• La Liga Midfielder of the Year: 2009, 2011
• Trofeo Alfredo Di Stéfano Second place: 2010
• UEFA Euro Player of the Tournament: 2008
• UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2008
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2010
• FIFA/FIFPro World XI: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
• ESM Team of the Year: 2008–09, 2010–11
• UEFA Champions League Final Man of the Match: 2009
• FIFA Club World Cup Bronze Ball: 2009
• FIFA Club World Cup Silver Ball: 2011

Decorations[link]

• Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit: 2010^[23]
• Prince of Asturias Awards: 2010

See also[link]

• List of one-club men

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Xavi Hernández

• FC Barcelona profile
• BDFutbol profile
• Transfermarkt profile
• National team data (Spanish)
• 2010 FIFA World Cup profile
• Xavi at National-Football-Teams.com
• Xavi – FIFA competition record
• Xavi – UEFA competition record

Awards v t e World Soccer Player of the Year 1982: Rossi 1983: Zico 1984: Platini 1985: Platini 1986: Maradona 1987: Gullit 1988: van Basten 1989: Gullit 1990: Matthäus 1991: Papin 1992: van Basten 1993: Baggio 1994: Maldini 1995: Vialli 1996: Ronaldo 1997: Ronaldo 1998: Zidane 1999: Rivaldo 2000: Figo 2001: Owen 2002: Ronaldo 2003: Nedvěd 2004: Ronaldinho 2005: Ronaldinho 2006: Cannavaro 2007: Kaká 2008: C. Ronaldo 2009: Messi 2010: Xavi 2011: Messi v t e La Liga Spanish Player of the Year - Don Balón Award 1976: Miguel Ángel 1977: Juanito 1978: Migueli 1979: Quini 1980: Gordillo 1981: Urruti 1982: Tendillo 1983: Señor 1984: Cervantes 1985: Migueli 1986: Míchel 1987: Zubizarreta 1988: Larrañaga 1989: Fernando 1990: Martín Vázquez 1991: Goikoetxea 1992: Elduayen 1993: Fran 1994: Guerrero 1995: Amavisca 1996: Caminero 1997: Raúl 1998: Alfonso 1999: Raúl 2000: Raúl 2001: Raúl 2002: Raúl 2003: Alonso 2004: Vicente 2005: Xavi 2006: Villa 2007: Cazorla 2008: Senna 2009: Iniesta 2010: Valero v t e European Championship Player of the tournament 1996: Sammer 2000: Zidane 2004: Zagorakis 2008: Xavi v t e UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament Goalkeepers Gianluigi Buffon Iker Casillas Edwin van der Sar Defenders José Bosingwa Philipp Lahm Carlos Marchena Pepe Carles Puyol Yuri Zhirkov Midfielders Hamit Altıntop Michael Ballack Cesc Fàbregas Andrés Iniesta Luka Modrić Lukas Podolski Marcos Senna Wesley Sneijder Xavi Konstantin Zyryanov Forwards Andrei Arshavin Roman Pavlyuchenko Fernando Torres David Villa Awards Preceded by Frank Lampard UEFA Champions League Best Midfielder 2008–09 Succeeded by Wesley Sneijder

Spain squads v t e Spain squad – 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship Winners (1st Title) 1 Aranzubia 2 Coira 3 Bermudo 4 Jusué 5 Orbaiz (c) 6 Marchena 7 Gabri 8 Xavi 9 Couñago 10 Colsa 11 Yeste 12 Varela 13 Casillas 14 Lombardero 15 Aganzo 16 Barkero 17 Rubén 18 Álvaro Coach: Sáez v t e Spain squad – 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Third Place 1 Aranzubia 2 Lacruz 3 Capdevila 4 Amaya 5 Marchena 6 Ismael 7 Angulo 8 Gabri 9 José Mari 10 Xavi 11 Farinós 12 Puyol 13 Láinez 14 Dorado 15 Albelda 16 Tamudo 17 Velamazán 18 Ferrón 19 Luque 20 Ania 21 Felip Coach: Sáez v t e Spain squad – 2000 Summer Olympics Silver Medalists 1 Aranzubia 2 Lacruz 3 Capdevila 4 Marchena 5 Unai 6 Albelda 7 Angulo 8 Xavi 9 José Mari 10 Gabri 11 Ferrón 12 Puyol 13 Luque 14 Amaya 15 Ismael 16 Velamazán 17 Tamudo 18 Felip Coach: Sáez v t e Spain squad – 2002 FIFA World Cup 1 Casillas 2 C. Torres 3 Juanfran 4 Helguera 5 Puyol 6 Hierro (c) 7 Raúl 8 Baraja 9 Morientes 10 Tristán 11 De Pedro 12 Luque 13 Ricardo 14 Albelda 15 Romero 16 Mendieta 17 Valerón 18 Sergio 19 Xavi 20 Nadal 21 Luis Enrique 22 Joaquín 23 Contreras Coach: Camacho v t e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 2004 1 Cañizares 2 Capdevila 3 Marchena 4 Albelda 5 Puyol 6 Helguera 7 Raúl (c) 8 Baraja 9 F. Torres 10 Morientes 11 Luque 12 Gabri 13 Aranzubia 14 Vicente 15 Bravo 16 Alonso 17 Etxeberria 18 César 19 Joaquín 20 Xavi 21 Valerón 22 Juanito 23 Casillas Coach: Sáez v t e Spain squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Casillas 2 Salgado 3 Pernía 4 Marchena 5 Puyol 6 Albelda 7 Raúl (c) 8 Xavi 9 F. Torres 10 Reyes 11 Luis García 12 A. López 13 Iniesta 14 Alonso 15 Ramos 16 Senna 17 Joaquín 18 Fàbregas 19 Cañizares 20 Juanito 21 Villa 22 Ibáñez 23 Reina Coach: Aragonés v t e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 2008 Winners (2nd Title) 1 Casillas (c) 2 Albiol 3 Navarro 4 Marchena 5 Puyol 6 Iniesta 7 Villa 8 Xavi 9 F. Torres 10 Fàbregas 11 Capdevila 12 Cazorla 13 Palop 14 Alonso 15 Ramos 16 García 17 Güiza 18 Arbeloa 19 Senna 20 Juanito 21 Silva 22 De la Red 23 Reina Coach: Aragonés v t e Spain squad – 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Third Place 1 Casillas (c) 2 Albiol 3 Piqué 4 Marchena 5 Puyol 6 Pablo 7 Villa 8 Xavi 9 F. Torres 10 Fàbregas 11 Capdevila 12 Busquets 13 López 14 Alonso 15 Ramos 16 Llorente 17 Güiza 18 Riera 19 Arbeloa 20 Cazorla 21 Silva 22 Mata 23 Reina Coach: Del Bosque v t e Spain squad – 2010 FIFA World Cup Winners (1st Title) 1 Casillas (c) 2 Albiol 3 Piqué 4 Marchena 5 Puyol 6 Iniesta 7 Villa 8 Xavi 9 F. Torres 10 Fàbregas 11 Capdevila 12 Valdés 13 Mata 14 Alonso 15 Ramos 16 Busquets 17 Arbeloa 18 Pedro 19 Llorente 20 Martínez 21 Silva 22 Navas 23 Reina Coach: Del Bosque v t e Spain squad – UEFA Euro 2012 1 Casillas (c) 2 Albiol 3 Piqué 4 Martínez 5 Juanfran 6 Iniesta 7 Pedro 8 Xavi 9 Torres 10 Fàbregas 11 Negredo 12 Valdés 13 Mata 14 Alonso 15 Ramos 16 Busquets 17 Arbeloa 18 Jordi Alba 19 Llorente 20 Cazorla 21 Silva 22 Navas 23 Reina Coach: Del Bosque

Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso playing for Real Madrid
Personal information
Full name	Xabier Alonso Olano
Date of birth	(1981-11-25) 25 November 1981 (age 30)
Place of birth	Tolosa, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Real Madrid
Number	14
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2004	Real Sociedad	119	(9)
2000–2001	→ Eibar (loan)	14	(0)
2004–2009	Liverpool	143	(15)
2009–	Real Madrid	104	(4)
National team‡
2000	Spain U18	1	(0)
2002–2003	Spain U21	9	(0)
2003–	Spain	95	(13)
2001–	Basque Country	4	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18:04, 13 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 29 February 2012

Xabier "Xabi" Alonso Olano (Basque pronunciation: [ˈʃabi aˈlons̺o]; born 25 November 1981) is a Spanish World Cup-winning footballer who plays for Real Madrid as a midfielder.

Alonso began his career at Real Sociedad, the main team of his home region Gipuzkoa. After a brief loan period at Eibar he returned to Sociedad where then manager John Toshack appointed Alonso as his team captain. Alonso succeeded in the role, taking Real Sociedad to second place in the 2002–03 season. He moved to Liverpool in August 2004 for £10.5 million. He won the UEFA Champions League in his first season at the club, scoring the equalising goal in the final. The following season he won the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield. He moved to Real Madrid for the start of the 2009–10 season, in a deal worth around £30 million. Internationally, Alonso has represented Spain in the Euro 2004, Euro 2008 tournaments and in the 2006 World Cup and 2010 World Cup. He made his international debut in April 2003 in a 4–0 victory against Ecuador, and he won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup with Spain.

Biography[link]

Early life[link]

Alonso was born into a family known for its footballing prowess. His father, Periko Alonso won the La Liga twice in successive seasons with Real Sociedad and a third time after he moved to Barcelona. He also featured in the national team, winning 20 caps over the course of his career.^[2] Born in Tolosa, a small Basque town, Xabi Alonso lived in Barcelona for the first six years of his life and moved to San Sebastián thereafter. It was here that his passion for football began as he whiled away his childhood playing at Playa de la Concha (Shell Beach).^[2] On the Basque sands Alonso befriended a fellow resident of Calle Matia, Mikel Arteta, and the two would battle each other in exhibitions of technical ability.^[3] He was immersed in football and his father would often bring him and his older brother, Mikel, to CE Sabadell's training ground to practise together. Alonso was influenced by his father's playing, taking more pleasure in passing the ball well than shooting at goal.^[4] At an early age he decided to play as a defensive midfielder: a role which helped him learn how to distribute the ball well. This talent would later prove to be an integral part of his club and international career.^[2]

When he was 15, Alonso went to the Irish town of Kells, County Meath on a school exchange programme to learn English.^[5] During his time there, he played Gaelic football and developed a keen interest in the sport.

Alonso and Arteta were ambitious and dreamed of playing alongside each other for Real Sociedad when they were older. Though they attended different schools, the two young players joined forces at the local youth side Antiguoko, playing games at the weekend. Their performances attracted the attention of scouts from top Spanish sides and the young Donostiarras separated ways, ending nine years of friendly rivalry, as Alonso went to Real Sociedad and Arteta moved to Catalan giants Barcelona.^[6] However, Alonso's move to Real Sociedad was not a companionless one as he was joined by his older brother Mikel Alonso who had also become an adept player.^[2]

Alonso progressed through the youth ranks and the reserve team at Real Sociedad and impressed enough to earn a first team debut at the age of 18.^[4] He made his first senior appearance against CD Logroñés in December 1999 in a Copa del Rey match.^[7] Alonso failed to make another appearance in the season but the following year brought more opportunities. At the beginning of the 2000–01 season, Javier Clemente sent Alonso to Segunda División team Eibar to gain experience. Alonso's father particularly felt the move to the smaller club improved him as a player.^[4] However, a quick turnover of managers, including a two month period with Periko Alonso in charge, left Real Sociedad in a dire situation. By January 2001 Real Sociedad were bottom of the league and the new manager, John Toshack, turned to the prodigious Alonso in the hope of reversing the team's fortunes. In a surprise move, the Welsh manager made 19 year old Alonso the team captain, a position traditionally held by more senior players.^[2] By the end of the season Sociedad had climbed out of the relegation zone and finished in 14th place.^[8] Toshack lauded Alonso, noting that the impression he had on the team was exceptional, especially for a player from the youth-team.^[2]