Germany legend Toni Kroos to retire from football after Euro 2024

 
Real Madrid and Germany icon Toni Kroos will retire from professional football following Euro 2024, his club announced yesterday.
The news comes as a surprise with Los Blancos, who wrapped up the La Liga title earlier this month, set to play in the Uefa Champions League final on June 1.

In a statement, Madrid express their "gratitude and affection to Toni Kroos", adding that he is "one of the great legends of our club's history and of world football".

The news has likely come as a shock to Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti because, speaking last week, he hinted that Kroos could be a contender for the Ballon d'Or if he wins the Champions League and Euros. Kroos, 34, started his career with Bayern Munich, where made his professional debut in 2007 and stayed with the Bavarians until 2014, where he won three Bundesliga titles, three German cups and the Champions League as part of a Treble in the 2012-13 campaign. He also added a Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup before moving to Madrid.

In Spain, he formed part of one of the best midfield threes of his generation with Luka Modric and Casemiro, winning the Champions League three years in a row from 2016 to 2018.

The Germany international added another in 2022 and his tally of six Club World Cup victories is a record in the competition.He leaves Madrid having won his fourth La Liga title to add to his Spanish Cup medal and three Uefa Super Cup triumphs.

Kroos has the chance to win a record-equalling sixth Champions League when his Madrid side face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Arguably his career highlight came in a Germany shirt as he helped his country to World Cup glory at the 2014 tournament in Brazil, scoring twice in the infamous 7-1 semi-final win over the hosts.


Having announced his retirement from international football in 2012, Kroos reversed that decision earlier this year and now has the chance to bow out with the ultimate high.The European Championship is one of the few medals missing from the midfielder's haul and he potentially has the opportunity to triumph on home soil in his last professional appearance.

>>Agencies