Bayern Munich midfielder Xabi Alonso announced on Thursday he would retire at the end of the season, putting an end to a long and trophy-laden career that includes every major title for club and country.
“It was no easy decision,” Alonso, 35, told Bayern Munich television.
“But it was the right moment. I always wanted to end my career earlier rather than too late. I still feel good so I think this is the right time.”
The Spaniard started his career at Real Sociedad, making his debut in the Copa del Rey in December 1999 at the age of 18.
No more first team appearances came that season and Alonso was sent on loan to Segunda Division side Eibar for the 2000/01 season. However, in January 2001 and with Sociedad bottom of the Primera Liga, Alonso was recalled by new Sociedad manager John Toshack, who made 20-year-old Alonso the team captain. The club climbed up the table, eventually finishing the season in 14th place.
After more than 100 appearances for Sociedad, Alonso moved to Premier League club Liverpool in 2004, helping the club win the Uefa Champions League in his first season. The FA Cup the following season represented the last piece of silverware Alonso won during his five years and 159 appearances in English football.
In 2009, Alonso returned to Spain with Real Madrid for a reported £30 million (Dh133.88m).
During five years in Madrid and 192 appearances, Alonso won the 2012 Primera Liga title, the 2014 Champions League, and two Copa del Reys.
From Madrid, Alonso moved to his final club, Bayern Munich, in 2014, and to date has won two Bundesliga titles and the 2015 DFB Pokal.
On the international stage, Alonso has made 133 appearances for Spain, winning the 2014 World Cup and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.
* Agencies
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
MATCH INFO
England 2
Cahill (3'), Kane (39')
Nigeria 1
Iwobi (47')
The specs: 2018 Nissan Altima
Price, base / as tested: Dh78,000 / Dh97,650
Engine: 2.5-litre in-line four-cylinder
Power: 182hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 244Nm @ 4,000rpm
Transmission: Continuously variable tranmission
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.6L / 100km
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
