Xabi Alonso retires from international duty

Madrid, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso announced his retirement from international competition on Wednesday.

Alonso, 32, has been capped 114 times for Spain, winning the 2010 World Cup and a pair of European Championships during his 11-year international career.

"I announce my retirement from international football," Alonso said via his Twitter account. "It's been an enormous honor for 11 great years."

Alonso made his Spain debut as a Real Sociedad player against Ecuador in April 2003. He was part of the Spain team that dominated world football following their Euro 2008 win. La Roja won the World Cup two years later and added another European title in 2012.

Alonso was also part of Vicente del Bosque's side that lost 5-1 to the Netherlands at the World Cup in Brazil and eventually was sent home after the group stage.