Toni Kroos will hang up his boots at the end of this season. He will play his last game with Real Madrid in the Champions League final at Wembley and will say goodbye to football playing with Germany in the next European Championship. At 34 years old, he once again demonstrates his uniqueness. Madrid was crazy about renewing him. If it is confirmed that Modric does not continue either, the whites will lose two of their most representative players of the last decade, the two who together with Casemiro formed a legendary midfield, perhaps the best in the club’s history.
Kroos says goodbye to Real Madrid with an emotional letter: “July 17, 2014, the day of my presentation at Real Madrid, was the day that changed my life. My life as a footballer, but above all as a person. It was the beginning of a new life in the biggest club in the world. Today, after 10 years, at the end of the season, this life comes to an end.”
And he continues: “I will never forget this exciting and successful decade!
I would like to especially thank president Florentino Pérez, the Club and everyone who welcomed me with an open heart and trusted me. But above all I want to thank you, dear Real Madrid fans, for your love and support from the first day to the last.”
And he continues: “At the same time, this decision means that my career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro Cup. As I have always said, Real Madrid is and will be my last club. Today I am happy and proud to have found in my head and in my heart the right moment for this decision. My ambition was always to finish my career at the top of my level. From this moment on, there is only one main thought in my mind and nothing is going to separate me from this: Let’s go for 15!!! HALA MADRID AND NOTHING MORE!”.
A few minutes after posting his letter on social networks, Real Madrid issued a statement of gratitude: “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 He is one of the great legends of our club and world football. Toni Kroos arrived at our club in 2014, and has been a fundamental player in one of the most successful periods in the 122-year history of Real Madrid. During the ten seasons in which he has defended our shirt and our shield, he has won 22 titles in 463 games to date: 4 European Cups, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 Leagues, 1 Copa del Rey and 4 Super Cups from Spain.”
“In addition to his titles with Real Madrid, Toni Kroos was proclaimed world champion with the German national team in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. With Bayern Munich, he won 1 European Cup, 1 Club World Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup. Europe, 3 Bundesligas, 3 German Cups and 2 German Super Cups.
At an individual level, Toni Kroos has been included in the FIFA FIFPRO World 11 team three times, was named the Best Playmaker in 2014 by the IFFHS and won the Golden Ball as best player at the 2007 U-17 World Cup in Korea. ”
“Toni Kroos will forever remain in the hearts of all Madrid fans for the excellence of his football and for being a player who has given everything for this shirt, always representing the values of Real Madrid. The president of Real Madrid, Florentino Pérez, states that “Toni Kroos is one of the great players in the history of Real Madrid and that this club is and will always be his home.” Real Madrid wishes him and his entire family good luck in this new stage of his life.
The decision to end his career had been suggested in Madrid with the player’s delay in renewing his contract. Described by Ancelotti as “very German” in his last press conference, the team had already suspected an ending like this for weeks.