🚨BREAKING: Toni Kroos has announced that he will retire at the end of the season. 😔💔
— Football Factly (@FootballFactly) December 30, 2022
One of the greatest players of our generation, Toni Kroos! 🙌🇩🇪 pic.twitter.com/BAqZI5oJ4d
Born in Greifswald, Toni Kroos has been passionate about football since childhood. His father, Roland Kroos, noted that despite his quiet demeanor, Toni becomes very enthusiastic and talkative when it comes to football.
Roland Kroos, a wrestling coach, was a major supporter of his son's talent from a young age. Despite his busy schedule, he always found time to accompany Toni to play football. However, as his father became increasingly occupied with wrestling, Toni was enrolled at the Greifswald academy near their home.
Recognized for his exceptional talent at the Greifswald academy, Kroos was recruited by the Hansa Rostock academy in 2002. It was in Rostock that Kroos began to dream of becoming a professional footballer. At the age of 13, he aspired to one day become a star at a major club like Bayern Munich, his childhood idol.
Kroos' dream came true. Thanks to his impressive development in Rostock, he was officially signed by Bayern Munich U-19 in 2006 at the age of 17.
Unfortunately, Kroos initially struggled to secure a place in Bayern Munich's first team, facing stiff competition from senior midfielders like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mark van Bommel. In 2009, he was loaned to Bayer Leverkusen to gain more playing opportunities. During his 18 months at Leverkusen, Kroos dispelled doubts about his abilities by delivering outstanding performances.
Under the guidance of Bruno Labbadia, Kroos played a pivotal role in leading Die Werkself to the DFB Pokal Final. He became one of Leverkusen's key midfielders alongside Arturo Vidal and Simon Rolfes.
Due to his impressive performances at the BayArena, Bayern Munich recalled Kroos to the Allianz Arena in 2010. He was thrilled to rejoin his idol club and quickly became an indispensable midfielder for FC Hollywood until 2014. During his time at Bayern, Kroos contributed significantly to the team's success, including leading them to a treble in the 2012/13 season.
Instead of being appreciated, 2014 brought unexpected challenges for Kroos. Despite his significant contributions to Munich, his salary remained stagnant at 4 million euros, a stark contrast to Mario Götze's 12 million euros after his transfer from Dortmund.
Feeling undervalued, Kroos protested and demanded a raise, believing he deserved parity with other top Munich players. He approached the club's CEO at the time, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, with his request, but was met with refusal. To add insult to injury, Rummenigge dismissed him as not being a world-class player.
The tension between Kroos and Munich caught the attention of Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid. Sensing an opportunity, Ancelotti pushed for Kroos' transfer to the Bernabeu. Real Madrid's negotiators swiftly reached an agreement with Munich and Kroos' agent, Volker Struth, facilitating Kroos' move in 2014, coinciding with Xabi Alonso's transfer to Munich.
Kroos quickly felt at home in Madrid. Despite the language barrier, he was warmly welcomed by the club and the Santiago Bernabeu fans. He appreciated the sense of value and respect he received from the Real Madrid community.
However, his initial season at Real Madrid wasn't without challenges. Kroos struggled with language adaptation and the distinct atmosphere of La Liga, leading to frequent rotations by Carlo Ancelotti with players like Asier Illarramendi.
Undeterred, Kroos continued to work hard, and under the guidance of Zinedine Zidane, he gradually found his best form. Zidane paired him with Luka Modrić and Casemiro, creating a formidable midfield trio. This trio became pivotal in Real Madrid's success, helping the team secure multiple titles, including a remarkable UEFA Champions League hat-trick.
As time passed, age began to catch up with Kroos. However, this didn't deter him. While many believed Real Madrid needed to rejuvenate their midfield, Kroos continued to deliver fierce performances on the field. The 2023/24 season, at 34 years old, saw him remain a crucial part of Real Madrid's journey to the UCL final.
Despite his enduring prowess, Kroos announced his retirement from football when no one doubted his capabilities. Both Carlo Ancelotti and Florentino Pérez never questioned his value, with Pérez reportedly ready to offer him a new contract. Yet, Kroos declined. He felt he had reached his limit and achieved everything he wanted at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid had become an integral part of Kroos' life. After feeling betrayed by Munich, he saw his move to Madrid as a "second life." The club's impact on his career was immense, and he aspired to retire wearing the proud white uniform of El Real.
The Santiago Bernabéu has witnessed Kroos' greatness throughout the decade. In every corner of this magnificent stadium, he felt appreciated, and the fans regarded him as one of their loyal players.
In the final week of the 2023/24 La Liga season, Real Madrid planned a beautiful farewell for Kroos. At the Santiago Bernabéu, he bid farewell to the club that revitalized his career. Fans flocked to the stadium, eager to see Kroos set foot on the Bernabéu grass one last time.
Under the majestic roof of the Santiago Bernabéu, Madridistas will say goodbye to their humble and invaluable idol. It will be a moment of sadness and deep emotion. Adios, Toni Kroos.
sources: nytimes, fcbayern, managingmadrid, goal, managingmadrid, marca, espn
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