After 399 days out injured, David Alaba is set to return to football today.
The 32-year-old Austria international was a key part of Real Madrid’s defence as they won their 14th Champions League/European Cup title in 2022. After signing on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, he provided one of that campaign’s memorable images when he lifted a white chair in celebration after his side’s remarkable round-of-16 comeback against Paris Saint-Germain. That chair is now displayed in the club museum.
Don’t you sit in our chair! pic.twitter.com/lmJAMyM8UD
— David Alaba (@David_Alaba) March 9, 2022
But after those highs, Alaba experienced the lowest moment of his career on December 17, 2023, when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee after challenging Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno in a game in La Liga. It was an innocuous coming-together that led to Alaba’s leg being pinned to the ground.
“My knee…” Alaba said as he lay on the pitch. Luka Modric and Rodrygo put their hands on their heads when they heard their team-mate. Jude Bellingham sighed and looked up to the sky — goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and centre-back Eder Militao had already suffered the same injury that campaign (Militao is currently out with an ACL injury).
GO DEEPER
ACL…
