Real Madrid’s midfielder Toni Kroos has announced that he will retire from football at the conclusion of Euro 2024 which will be played between June and July in Germany, confirmed the club in a press release on Tuesday.
Kroos, who joined Madrid in 2014 from Bayern Munich, has decided to retire at the age of 34. He will have two more matches to play with Los Blancos, a league match against Real Betis on May 25 and then the UEFA Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1.
“Real Madrid CF announces that Toni Kroos has decided to end his career as a professional football player after Euro 2024,” the club said in a statement.
“Real Madrid wants to express its gratitude and affection to Toni Kroos, a player who is already part of the history of Real Madrid and who is one of the great legends of our club and world football.”
Kroos is widely known for his time with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Germany where he created history and is regarded as a legend for each institute.
He was part of Bayern’s squad that won the historic treble in the 2012/13 season. Meanwhile, in 2014, the midfielder won the FIFA World Cup with Germany beating Argentina in the final. After the World Cup, the 34-year-old joined Madrid where he will retire as he had said multiple times in the past.
Kroos has so far won the FIFA Club World Cup six times, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup five times , Spanish Super Cup four times, German Cup and Bundesliga three times, Copa del Rey, German Super Cup and FIFA World Cup once.
Euro is the only trophy Kroos hasn’t won in his career so far and with the championship taking place in Germany, the midfielder would be aiming to lift this title before finally hanging his boots for good.
Here is how Kroos' former and current teammates reacted
Cristiano Ronaldo commented on Kroos' retirement post and said: “[Thanks] for everything, Toni! What an honour to share the pitch with you. All the best for the future!”