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Real Madrid’s German international midfielder, Tony Kroos, announced on Tuesday that he will retire from all football after the Euro 2024 tournament.
“My career as an active footballer will end this summer after the Euro championship,” the 34-year-old Kroos, a 2014 World Cup winner with Germany, declared on Instagram.
Before the European Championship, Kroos has an opportunity to win the Champions League with Real Madrid for the fifth time when they face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1. He previously secured the Champions League title with Bayern Munich before transferring to the Spanish giants.
Kroos joined Real Madrid in 2014 and swiftly established a formidable midfield partnership with Luka Modric. Real Madrid lauded Kroos in a statement on their website, noting that he “will go down in Real Madrid history as one of our club and international football’s greatest legends.”
During his tenure with Real Madrid, Kroos has also won the La Liga title four times.
Although Kroos announced his retirement from international football in July 2021, he reversed this decision in February after discussions with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, who convinced him to continue playing until Euro 2024, which will be held in Germany.
“My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level,” Kroos stated on Instagram. “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.”
Kroos was instrumental in Germany's 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil, scoring twice in the 7-1 semifinal triumph over the host nation. However, he could not prevent Germany's early exit in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
