On his podcast, Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has announced that he will retire from football after Euro 2024 this summer.
On his decision, Kroos said (via @Plettigoal): “I really thought about it for a long time, a very, very long time, and in the past few days, I’ve come to a conviction, which is that this season, this wonderful season, the tenth season with Real, will also be my last season with Real. And for those who have been paying close attention to what I’ve said over the past few years, they might have come across the statement a few times that, for me, the only option is to end my career at Real Madrid. And if you can put two and two together, you now know that my last season with Real also means that this summer will be the end. The end with Real, the end with football. Thinking about it for a long time, as I am realizing right now, is significantly easier than saying it out loud. When you say something yourself and sit here with goosebumps, then it must be something special. And when you started playing football at the age of six and managed to keep it up until 34, especially when football was always the focal point, it’s just a very, very momentous decision and that’s why it doesn’t roll off the tongue so easily today. But the decision has been made and now I can understand the feeling of being very happy on one side and very sad on the other.“
This means his last game for Real Madrid will be the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund. While internationally, Kroos will get one last hurrah with Germany in a home European championship.
The 34-year-old has had a more than successful career at both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. During his 10 years in Spain, Kroos has won 4 La Liga titles, 4 Champions Leagues, 1 Copa del Rey and 4 UEFA Super Cups. He was also a part of one of the best midfield trios around partnering with Luka Modric and Casemiro for the majority of his 10-year spell.
At Bayern, Kroos was a part of the Bayern treble-winning side in 2013 and on top of that he won the double twice in 2014 and 2008.
Internationally, Kroos was also a part of the 2014 World Cup-winning Germany squad. The 34-year-old has made 108 appearances for the national team and is the last German player to play for Germany which was born in East Germany.
GGFN | Jack Meenan
