SUMMARY
- Toni Kroos has recently announced his retirement.
- The Real Madrid midfielder will hang up his boots after the Euros 2024 where he will represent Germany.
The 2023-24 season has been one of painful goodbyes as Toni Kroos became the latest in line to announce his retirement. Earlier this year, Borussia Dortmund legend Marco Reus stated that he will be leaving the club after 12 years. Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp will also leave the club in the following few days as he bade an emotional farewell to Anfield.
Real Madrid star Toni Kroos announced his decision to retire from professional soccer on his Instagram account on Tuesday. Kroos, whose current contract with Real Madrid ends on June 30 this year, has stated that he will retire from the game after the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024. Kroos wrote on his social media handles, “After 10 years, at the end of the season this chapter comes to an end.”
View this post on Instagram
Although, with Kroos announcing his retirement, the German star has effectively kept his promise that he made on the day he signed for Real Madrid. During his presentation back in 2014, Kroos had said, “I know how things are at Real Madrid, it is necessary to win titles and I am the right man.” Ten years down the lane, Kroos will be leaving the club with 21 titles to his name, including four Champions League titles.
๐ฃ๏ธ Toni Kroos in his presentation, 10 years ago: “I know how things are at Real Madrid, it is necessary to win titles and I am the right man, I am not a man to talk a lot but I am going to give everything for Real Madrid so that the fans are happy.” pic.twitter.com/wAwDw8dUcq
โ Football Talk (@FootballTalkHQ) May 21, 2024
Kroos, alongside Casemiro and Luka Modric, formed a fearsome midfield trio that fetched Real Madrid unprecedented success. With Casemiro already leaving the club for Manchester United last season, and Modric also being on the brink of an exit, an era has come to an end. However, the German soccer icon has promised the fans to mark his final game for the club by winning the Champions League final.
Soccer community unites in wishing Toni Kroos farewell
As soon as Toni Kroos announced his retirement decision, the social media platforms became flooded with farewell posts and messages from soccer fans, and past and current players alike. Kroos’ former as well as present teammates wished the former Bayern Munich midfielder on his retirement, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, and so on.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who played with Kroos between 2014 to 2018, wrote, “What an honor to share the field with you. All the best for the future.” Kroos’ trusted midfield partner Luka Modric wrote, “It has been an honor to share the Real Madrid midfield with you. We will never forget this golden era at the club of our lives.” Former Real Madrid skipper and current Sevilla star Sergio Ramos also wished his former teammate.
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Ramos wrote, “Itโs been a joy to share so many special moments and successes with such a unique player and exceptional person, one of the best. Always on my team, Antonio.” There were also wishes and messages from the likes of Casemiro, Vinicius Jr., David Alaba, Federico Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and so on.
A look at Toni Kroos’ illustrious career
With Toni Kroos bringing an end to his 17-year-long career as a professional soccer player, his trophy cabinet will put most soccer stars to shame. The 34-year-old German legend has had an illustrious career, winning almost everything there is to win in the soccer world. Playing for clubs like Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, and Real Madrid, and being a regular with the German national team, Kroos has been a success everywhere.
Toni Kroos’ Real Madrid stats speak for themselves ๐
That’s without mentioning the 21 major trophies ๐ณ๐ pic.twitter.com/mXEK6DXEaY
โ OneFootball (@OneFootball) May 21, 2024
He won ten titles with Bayern Munich, including three Bundesliga titles, one Champions League title, three DFB-Pokal trophies, one DFL-Super Cup, and one UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup title. After joining Real Madrid, Kroos became one of the most decorated players in the club’s history, winning four Champions Leagues, four league titles, one Copa del Rey, four Spanish Super Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, and five Club World Cups.
World Cup x ๐
Champions League x ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
Club World Cup x ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
UEFA Super Cup x ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
La Liga x ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
Spanish Super Cup x ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐
Copa del Rey x ๐
Bundesliga x ๐ ๐ ๐
DFB-Pokal x ๐ ๐ ๐
German Super Cup x ๐Toni Kroos is a winner ๐ pic.twitter.com/wmrMhzLMBe
โ GOAL (@goal) May 21, 2024
Kroos can add a sixth Champions League title to his name later next month, as Real Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund in the final of Europe’s premier club competition. It will be both Toni Kroos and Marco Reus’ final game for Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund respectively. At an international level, Kroos won the FIFA World Cup with Germany in 2014, beating Lionel Messi‘s Argentina in the final.