Football seems to be dealing with too many goodbyes lately, as today, the evergreen German and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos announced that he will be retiring from all forms of football after the EURO 2024.
The midfield maestro also mentioned that the UEFA Champions League Final against Borussia Dortmund will also be the last game he plays for Real Madrid.
“My career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro championship,” 34-year-old Kroos, who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, posted on his Instagram.
Kroos’ decorated career includes total of five UEFA Champions League titles across both Real Madrid and former club Bayern Munich, and the coveted FIFA World Cup, which he clinched with Germany in 2014.
The German was brought to Madrid to grace the Santiago Bernabeu back in 2014, and with the likes of his new midfield partner-in-crime Luka Modric, would go on to establish himself as one of the best midfielders the game has ever seen.
In a statement on their website, Real said Kroos “will go down in Real Madrid history as one of our club and international football’s greatest legends”.
Kroos clinched four La Liga titles with Real Madrid, as well as three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich during his illustrious career.
This isn’t the first time Kroos has contemplates retirement in some level, as the German did put his name in for retirement from international duty back in 2021, before making a dramatic return for Germany this year ahead of the EURO 2024.
The midfielder who has not been part of the national side for the last three years, following their Euro exit returned to selection at the request of head coach Julian Nagelsmann, who has been tasked with the challenge of rebuilding the historically successful side which has underperformed on the big stage in recent times.
But, as per his own personal wish to leave at the top of his game, it seems as if the maestro has made his mind up to hang his boots up once and for all, after having put up yet another stellar season for Real Madrid.
“As I have always said: Real Madrid is and will be my last club. I am happy and proud, that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it by my own,” wrote Kroos in his post on Instagram.
“My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level.”
