XABI ALONSO - SPAIN

Date of birth: Nov. 25, 1981
Birthplace: Tolosa, Spain
Club: Liverpool (England)
Position: Midfielder
International debut: April 2003 vs. Ecuador

Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso comes from good soccer stock.

His father Miguel was a star for FC Barcelona and won two Spanish league titles with Real Sociedad in the early 1980s. Xabi's brother, fellow midfielder Mikel, currently plays at Sociedad and another brother, Jon, is a referee.

But there's no question as to who is the star of the family. Xabi, who plays in England with Liverpool, is an exquisite midfield talent noted for his vision on the field, refined playmaking ability and prowess from set-piece situations.

Alonso cuts defences to shreds with his wide range of accurate passes, driving runs and blistering shots on net. He also possesses a deft touch, making him one of the most complete central midfielders in soccer today.

Xabi came through the youth team setup at Real Sociedad before making his debut for the senior side during the 1999-00 season. The club sent Alonso on a loan deal to SD Eibar at the start of the following campaign, but quickly recalled him and he established himself as a first-team starter.

The 2002-03 season was when Alonso broke out. He scored three goals in 34 games and played a big role in helping Sociedad finish in second place behind Real Madrid.

The national team took notice of his considerable skills and he made his debut as a 21-year-old for Spain in a 2003 exhibition game against Ecuador. He was also named to the Spanish team that competed at Euro 2004.

After another year at Sociedad, Alonso jumped to England when Liverpool came calling in 2004 following a 10.5-million pound ($22-million Cdn) transfer move initiated by Spanish coach Rafael Benitez.

Although it took him some time to adapt to the speed of the English Premiership, the Spaniard became a mainstay of the Liverpool midfield and one of the club's key players, forming a deadly central midfield partnership with captain Steven Gerrard.

He also became a fan favourite, winning over Liverpool supporters with his classy play, long-range shooting ability and composure on the field.

Alonso broke his foot in January 2005 but he made a quick recovery and cemented his status as a hero to the Liverpool fans in the Champions League final against AC Milan in May.

Down 3-0 at halftime, Liverpool fought back and tied the score when Alonso converted a crucial penalty shot in the second half. Liverpool went on to win the game and Alonso was lauded as a hero, capping off a sensational debut season in England.

Alonso was again at the heart of Liverpool's midfield engine room this past season when the club finished a respectable third in the standings.

He showed a great deal of grit and determination by shaking off an ankle injury and playing in the 2006 FA Cup final, a 4-3 victory for Liverpool over West Ham United in a penalty shootout.