The term "Xabi Alonso" is grammatically classified as a proper noun. A proper noun is a specific name used for an individual person, place, or organization. In this context, it identifies a unique individual, distinguishing him from all other people.
As a proper noun, "Xabi Alonso" functions as a single nominal unit within a sentence. It can serve in various grammatical roles typically occupied by nouns. For instance, it can act as the subject performing an action (e.g., "Xabi Alonso implemented a new strategy."), a direct object receiving an action (e.g., "The team hired Xabi Alonso."), or the object of a preposition (e.g., "The victory was attributed to Xabi Alonso."). The two words, "Xabi" (given name) and "Alonso" (surname), combine to form one complete entity.
Recognizing "Xabi Alonso" as a proper noun is crucial for correct capitalization and syntax in writing. Both "Xabi" and "Alonso" must always be capitalized. For stylistic variation and to avoid repetition in an article, after the full name has been introduced, subsequent references may use the surname "Alonso" alone or a pronoun such as "he" or "him." The possessive form is created by adding an apostrophe and "s" (e.g., "Xabi Alonso's career").
