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| Toni Kroos has announced his retirement from football after a stellar career that delivered five Champions League trophies and the FIFA World Cup among others. (Photo credit: BBC) |
Germany international Toni Kroos has announced his retirement from football, effective after the upcoming European Championship, which is happening on his home soil.
Toni Kroos played his part in Real Madrid’s title triumph and will hope to end on a high with a Champions League success—the fifteenth for the Los Blancos and the Euros, which the mercurial midfielder has never won before.
“I am convinced that it is the correct decision. I wanted to end it in the best way possible, and this season is one of the best I have played. My goal was to finish in the best way possible, and this season has been one of my best. I want you to remember me as I am now.”.
Toni Kroos left Bayern Munich in strange circumstances after he asked for a pay rise to at least be on par with the then-golden boy of German football, Mario Goetze, but the Bayern hierarchy denied his request, and Pep Guardiola sold him to Real Madrid.
Kroos, 34, has enjoyed an illustrious career that has included the 2014 World Cup title, three Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich, and four La Liga titles with Madrid, to go along with five Champions League titles across the two clubs.
The final club game of his career will be this season's Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1. The German international said he still has it in him to play at the top, but he doesn't want to sit on the bench next season.
"July 17th, 2014—the day of my presentation at Real Madrid, the day that changed my life," Kroos said on Instagram. "My life as a football player—but especially as a person." It was the start of a new chapter at the biggest club in the world. After 10 years, at the end of the season, this chapter comes to an end.
"At the same time, this decision means that my career as an active footballer will end this summer after the European Championship.
"As I have always stated, Real Madrid is and will be my last club." I am happy and proud that, in my mind, I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it on my own."