Former Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso announces plans to become a manager

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Former Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso has announced he will pursue a career in football management having hung up his boots at the end of last season.

Alonso, who won 114 caps for Spain and won the Champions League twice during a glittering playing career, has been doing his coaching badges since his final game for Bayern Munich in May.

There were reports that the 35-year-old could be in line to return to Liverpool as a coach, where he would be reunited with the club's Under-18s manager Steven Gerrard.

Former Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso has announced he will pursue a career in management

But Alonso, dressed in a smart suit beside a football pitch, has released a cryptic message which suggests his future lies elsewhere as a man in the dugout as much as at the training ground.

In a short Instagram story, he said: 'After 17 years in the game, I have considered the next step in my career. I have decided to go into management. Find out soon. #HereToCreate.'

Alonso's revelation comes after Gerrard admitted he advised former manager Rafa Benitez against signing Gareth Barry as a replacement for the Spaniard, instead imploring him to do everything to keep the midfielder at the club. 

Benitez was keen on signing Barry to play alongside Gerrard, but the former Liverpool captain managed to convince his boss to keep Alonso, before he eventually moved to Real Madrid in 2009.

Alonso finished his career at Bayern Munich with a third Bundesliga title in as many years

Steven Gerrard told Rafa Benitez that the fans would want to see Alonso stay at the club

The Spaniard left Anfield for Real Madrid in 2009, when Gareth Barry joined Manchester City

'He wanted to move Xabi on and bring in Gareth,' Gerrard told BT Sport. 'Now, for me that wasn't the right move, although I'm a big fan of Gareth Barry.

'I'd rather have him in to play alongside Xabi because I think they could have worked together.

'I don't think it was the right move from a Liverpool point of view to replace Xabi with Gareth. The fans love Xabi, he's a world-class player, and for me, Rafa should have been doing everything to keep him and not have him move on.' 

Alonso announced his decision to call time on his career in March this year, bringing to an end more than a decade of trophy-laden success at the top level. 

Alonso pictured playing for Real Madrid against Bayern in the Champions League in April 2014

The World Cup winner continue to add trophies to his cabinet during his time in Germany

Having started his career at Real Sociedad, Alonso joined Liverpool in 2004 and was an influential part of Benítez's side that won an unforgettable Champions League. 

In his five years at the Bernabeu with Madrid, he was part of another winning Champions League campaign, despite being suspended for the final in 2014, as well as a league title and two Copa del Rey triumphs. 

Alonso announced his retirement from international football after 114 games, two European Championships, and one World Cup in August 2014 before he joined his final club Bayern, winning three successive Bundesliga titles among other honours.

Alonso took to Twitter in March to write: 'Lived it. Loved it. Farewell beautiful game.'

Now the former midfielder will try his hand in managing others to success from the dugout