Toni Kroos, a Real Madrid midfielder, has formally confirmed his retirement from football following the Euro 2024 tournament this summer.
Kroos stated this on his podcast, expressing mixed emotions as he prepares to finish his long career.
“I really thought about it for a long time, a very, very long time,” Kroos said.
“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.
“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,” he added.
Kroos, 34, has enjoyed a successful career with Real Madrid, where he has won numerous titles, including four La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, one Copa del Rey, and four UEFA Super Cups.
He formed part of a legendary midfield trio with Luka Modric and Casemiro, contributing to Real Madrid’s dominance over the past decade.
Before joining Real Madrid, Kroos played for Bayern Munich, where he was a key part of the treble-winning side in 2013 and secured two additional doubles in 2008 and 2014.
Internationally, Kroos was a member of the German squad that won the 2014 World Cup.
Kroos’ final game for Real Madrid will be the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, providing him a chance to end his club career on a high note.
