Berlin: Bayern Munich will farewell two giants of the game on Saturday when World Cup winners Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso retire from professional football.
Bayern’s game at home to Freiburg promises to be an emotional afternoon as the Bundesliga champions lift the trophy for the fifth successive season.
Between them, Lahm, 33, and Alonso, 35, won every major trophy and were key figures in two of the 21st century’s most incredible matches.
Defensive midfielder Alonso scored Liverpool’s crucial third goal in their comeback from 3-0 down at half-time in the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan, before winning 3-2 in a penalty shoot-out, in Istanbul.
Lahm captained Germany from right-back when his team scored four goals in six devastating first-half minutes in their 7-1 thrashing of hosts Brazil in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup.
Alonso: midfield maestro Alonso made his mark at three of the world’s biggest clubs — Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern. — AFP
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