Top five Bayern Munich midfielders of the century

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MUNICH, GERMANY – MAY 20: Xabi Alonso of Bayern Muenchen controls the ball during the Bundesliga match between Bayern Muenchen and SC Freiburg at Allianz Arena on May 20, 2017, in Munich, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images) /

Xabi Alonso

Seeing Xabi Alonso on this list may surprise many Bayern fans, but there is a strong case for the Spaniard. After winning the Champions League with Real Madrid in 2014, Alonso sealed a shock transfer to Bayern Munich.

The Spanish midfielder seamlessly adapted to the Bundesliga and became the first-choice midfielder under Pep Guardiola. Alonso had proved himself as a game-changing defensive midfielder at Liverpool and Real Madrid, so it was not a surprise to see him flourish for Die Roten.

Alonso also allowed Guardiola to tinker with systems. The Spaniard’s philosophy was very well captured in the way Alonso used to play on the pitch. From winning the ball from the opponent with an inch-perfect tackle to spraying long diagonal balls to forwards, Alonso had everything in his locker. He also scored a few freekicks by showing great presence of mind.

The former Liverpool midfielder helped Bayern to provide more control in European games, but Rekordmeister were unfortunate to not win a CL title during his time at the club. He continued to remain a vital player for Die Roten even after Guardiola’s departure. Alonso played the last few years of his career at Bayern, but he was still able to churn out remarkable performances consistently.

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