Alaba and the white chair: the strange story born at Real that made his celebration famous

Udinese have made a sensational move among free agents: David Alaba. The defender, who was left without a team after his experience at Real Madrid, will start his new adventure in Serie A. Runjaic has asked for him with great force and, after the medical examinations that have already been carried out, tomorrow is only expected to be made official. A footballer who certainly needs no introduction and who at the age of 34 still has the desire to surprise. In his palmares are 4 Champions Leagues, dozens of championships won with Bayern Munich, but also with Real Madrid, in addition to national cup trophies.

Named Austrian Footballer of the Year several times, Alaba approaches this adventure with the same enthusiasm that has characterized him during recent seasons, even the most unfortunate ones, such as the last, in which injuries have stopped him too often. On May 23, against Athletic Bilbao, he played his last match with “Los Blancos” and decided to greet the public on the pitch with a white chair. An object that Udinese also used, publishing on social networks precisely the image of a chair as a signal for the imminent transfer of the Austrian Alaba.

But why the chair?

In Spain, it has become famous as the “Silla de Alaba”, after a Real Madrid achievement in the Champions League. It all started after Real Madrid-PSG, in the 1/8 stage of the 2021/2022 Champions League. After the 3-1 victory that brought another extraordinary upset (PSG had won 1-0 in the first leg), Alaba celebrated qualification precisely by raising a chair to the sky. Not even he himself knew the exact reason: “It was the most spontaneous and heartfelt impulsive gesture of that moment”, he explained after the match. Alaba then raised a white chair to the sky again in April 2022, on the occasion of the celebrations for Real Madrid's 35th Spanish champion title.

Finished? Not at all. In May 2024, Real Madrid played a crazy second semi-final against Bayern Munich, winning by a landslide. Two goals from Joselu overturned Davies' goal and secured “Los Blancos” the 18th Champions League final in their history. Well, at the end of that match, swept up in euphoria, the players began a long lap around the pitch, which ended with them grabbing a white chair, most likely used by a security guard. At that moment, a teammate immediately handed it to Alaba, who immediately lifted it into the sky.

The chair was a sarcastic way of mocking the Austrian Alaba himself, who had been "sitting" in the infirmary for most of the season due to a serious injury. A way to soften the situation in a climate of celebration and euphoria after that achievement. And so, from that moment on, the "Silla de Alaba" became an iconic celebration for Real Madrid players, highlighted on big occasions. At Udinese they can't wait to see one waving towards the sky again.