Soccer Star Toni Kroos Says He Will Retire After Euro 2024

FRANKFURT AM MAIN, GERMANY - MARCH 26: Toni Kroos of Germany looks on prior to the international friendly match between Germany and The Netherlands at Deutsche Bank Park on March 26, 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has decided to hang up his jersey following a stellar 10-year career with the top Spanish club.

Mr. Kroos made the surprise announcement in a statement via Instagram on May 21, telling his 46 million followers that he will retire after the upcoming Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Euro.

“July 17th, 2014—the day of my presentation at Real Madrid, the day that changed my life. My life as a footballer—but especially as a person. It was the start of a new chapter at the biggest club in the world,” the 34-year-old German footballer stated.

“After 10 years, at the end of the season, this chapter comes to an end,” he added. “I will never forget that successful time! I would particularly like to thank everyone that welcomed me with an open heart and trusted me. But especially I would like to thank you, dear Madridistas, for your affection and your love from the first day until the last one.”

The Spanish soccer giant expressed its gratitude and affection to Mr. Kroos in a statement on the official Real Madrid website, saying he will go down in the club’s history “as one of our club and international football’s greatest legends.”

“Toni Kroos will remain forever in the hearts of every madridista thanks to his mastery of the game and the fact he has given his all for our jersey, a steadfast example of the values of Real Madrid,” the club stated.

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez also expressed his gratitude to the soccer star, saying he’s “one of the great players in Real Madrid history and this club will always be his home.”

As he always said he'd do, Mr. Kroos will end his career at the peak of his performance level while still playing with the Los Blancos.

His last game for Real Madrid will be the Champions League Final against German club Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium in London.

President of Real Madrid Florentino Perez and Real Madrid player Toni Kroos pose with Kroos' new Real Madrid shirt during his official unveiling at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on July 17, 2014. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

“As I have always said: Real Madrid is and will be my last club,” Mr. Kroos said. “I am happy and proud, that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it by my own. My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level.”

Mr. Kroos will end his time at Real Madrid after making 463 official appearances for the Los Blancos, winning 22 trophies, including four European Cups.

The former Bayern Munich midfielder has been “a key player in one of the most successful periods” of Real Madrid’s 122-year history, the club said in Tuesday’s announcement.

The midfielder still has the opportunity to add one more La Liga title if the team reigns supreme at Wembley on June 1.

In addition to his many titles with Real Madrid, Mr. Kroos also won the 2014 FIFA World Cup with the German national team and another Champions League title with Bayern Munich in 2013.

From NTD News