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Watch: Xabi Alonso's Final Minutes As A Professional Footballer Are Too Much

Watch: Xabi Alonso's Final Minutes As A Professional Footballer Are Too Much

An emotional rollercoaster...

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar

Xabi Alonso turns 36 today and we thought it'd be worthwhile harking back to last May when he left a football pitch for the final time.

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON 20 MAY 2017.

IT'S OFFICIAL - football will never be the same after Xabi Alonso and Philipp Lahm have played their final game.

Bayern Munich have said goodbye to not one but TWO of football's modern greats in Alonso and Lahm.

The pair of iconic footballers started for Bayern as they hosted Freiburg in the final game of the Bundesliga.

They were already crowned German champions but Carlo Ancelotti's men ran out 4-1 winners finishing with 82 points, 15 clear of nearest rivals, RB Leipzig.

But the pair were drafted off before the final whistle which included a clearly emotional Alonso.

(Watch Alonso's emotional farewell to football as he gets substituted):

What a player. What an incredible career.

As well as the Spanish midfielder, Lahm was also making his final appearance and he received a heroic send-off from the Bayern faithfuls.

Lahm, with 516 appearances to his name for Die Roten, has amassed an incredible trophy haul during his 12 years as part of the Bayern first team.

And he's been rewarded with the ultimate honour as the club are set to induct him into the Bayern Hall of Fame. A fitting tribute to a club legend.

Alonso, meanwhile, may only have half the league title winner's medals that Lahm has (three with Bayern and one with Real Madrid) but the Spanish midfielder has double the Champions League winner's medals and an extra two European Championships to accompany his 2010 World Cup success with Spain.

End of an era. Gracias, Xabi and Danke, Philipp.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Liverpool, Xabi Alonso, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid