Xabi Alonso: Playing for Liverpool was so special to me

Xabi Alonso says he realised what a special club Liverpool was on his first day at Anfield.

The 35-year-old - who on Thursday confirmed his plans to retire at the end of the current season - moved to Merseyside in 2004 after five years with Real Sociedad, a club based in his home town of San Sebastian, in the Basque region of northern Spain.

The change in culture was a significant one for Alonso but he felt an immediate understanding of the gravity of the club with whom he would go on to spend five seasons.

"My time in England was, for me, spectacular. I was 22, it was my first experience of living on my own and of living somewhere which wasn't my home town," Alonso said of Liverpool, who play Burnley on Sunday live on Sky Sports.

Live Nissan Super Sunday

"Until that moment I was living with my parents and I knew everything in the neighbourhood.

"It was when I became an adult and I realised in that first year at Liverpool what a special club it is, with all the history and the tradition of Liverpool. From the first day you realise how big it is."

Alonso remains hugely well regarded to followers of Liverpool and the wider footballing public, as shown by the thousands of messages of praise following the news of his retirement.

He will be forever remembered at Anfield for his part in the comeback Champions League final victory in Istanbul in 2005, which came at the expense of a Milan side managed by his current boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Alonso hopes to redress that balance with Bayern Munich this season.

"I was lucky enough to play in a fantastic final for Liverpool and to win that Champions League," he said.

"Hopefully I will have another chance to win it this season."