Legend Xabi right up there with Lahm and Totti

THERE are genuine European legends like Philipp Lahm and Francesco Totti (left) hanging up their boots this summer. But a special mention should go to someone who graced the Premier League for five years as part of a remarkable career: Xabi Alonso. He played more than 700 games for Real Sociedad, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, and 116 times for Spain.

Alonso won the World Cup, the European Championship twice, two Champions Leagues (with different clubs), three Bundesligas, one La Liga, the FA Cup, German FA Cup, Copa del Rey, and a UEFA Super Cup. The Spaniard rarely moaned, never hogged the limelight, just got on with his peerless passing game, incredible work-rate and superb intelligence.

And respected the supporters of the clubs he was at, and the journalists who met him along the way.

At a time when the lie is being peddled that all footballers are overpaid prima-donnas and the worst kind of role models, Alonso, 35, was a man who deserved every penny he was paid, never believed he was more special than any team-mate, and was the perfect role model for a youngster going into any profession.

A well-earned retirement beckons.

CHELSEA loaned out 38 players last season and I am sure every one of them was packed off with the message: “Do what we’ve told you to do, shine throughout, grow into the player we know you can be and next summer, if you’ve done all that’s asked of you,...