Midfielder Toni Kroos won the Champions League title four times with Real Madrid. Photo courtesy: Mariscal/EPA-EFE
May 21 (UPI) — Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos will retire from football after playing for Germany at Euro 2024, he announced on Instagram on Tuesday.
“This decision means that my active football career will end after this summer's Euro Championship,” Kroos wrote on social media. “As I have always said, Real Madrid is and will always be my last club.
“I am happy and proud to have found the right time for my decision and to have made it my own choice. My ambition has always been to finish my career at the peak of my performance level.”
Kroos, 34, won La Liga four times and the Champions League four times with Madrid. He made his senior career debut in 2007 with Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga. He also spent time on loan at Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga before joining Madrid in 2014.
“July 17, 2014, the day of the presentation at Real Madrid, the day that changed my life,” Kroos wrote.
“My life as a footballer and especially as a human being. This was the beginning of a new chapter at the biggest club in the world. After 10 years and the end of the season, this chapter will come to an end. I will never Forget about that arrogant and successful time!
“I would like to especially thank everyone who welcomed me with such generosity and trusted me. But especially to all my dear Madridistas, for your love from the first day to the last. I want to”
Kroos was part of the German national team that won the 2014 World Cup and finished third at the 2010 World Cup. The star midfielder was the highest-rated player at the 2014 World Cup, according to Castrol's Performance Index.
Germany will play a friendly against Ukraine in Nuremberg on June 3rd. The Germans host Greece in another friendly on June 7 in Mönchengladbach. They will face Scotland in the group stage of Euro 2024 in Munich on June 14th.
Kroos last played for Madrid on 14 May in a 5-0 win over Alaves in Madrid, where he recorded an assist.
Madrid, who have already won the La Liga title, will host Real Betis in their final game of the season at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on Saturday at 3pm ET. Kroos has played 32 La Liga games this season, scoring one goal and providing eight assists.
