Will Toni Kroos retire after Euro 2024? German legend explains decision after Real Madrid success

Germany legend Toni Kroos hopes he has bid farewell to the game when he hangs up his boots after Euro 2024.

The legendary midfielder announced he would retire after this summer’s tournament, just days before lifting a sixth Champions League trophy in his final match for Real Madrid.

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Kroos has won four La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues with Los Blancos since signing from Bayern Munich in 2014, where he also tasted domestic and European glory.

The 2014 World Cup winner now has the opportunity to leave the international stage with as much glory as his club career.

Will Toni Kroos retire after the Euro?

Yes, the 34-year-old revealed his intention to finish his career after Euro 2024 with Germany in his homeland with a post on social media.

Kroos initially retired from international football in July 2021 following a 2–0 defeat to England at Euro 2020.

He was convinced to reverse his decision in February following discussions with head coach Julian Nagelsmann.

Nagelsmann has now revealed what was said during those discussions, explaining: “It took a while to convince him because he wanted to know what we were going to change in the future for the national team.

“He told me in one of the first phone calls that he would only be part of the team when he felt like we could win something, together with the team.”

And then the German coach told Kroos about his plans, to which the midfielder replied: “Yes, I will be part of it. Let’s go!”

Kroos then made his first outing for Die Mannschaft in over 1000 days in the 2-0 win over France in March.

However, the 111-cap international then confirmed that his return would only be brief and that Euro 2024 would be his last dance.

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Why is he retiring?

Kroos shocked the football world by announcing his retirement after showing this season that he is still one of the best around.

It was his precise corner that created Dani Carvajal’s first Wembley goal in the 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund.

He is also four years younger than his long-time Madrid teammate Luka Modric, who signs a new contract at the club.

Kroos was also offered the chance to sign a new deal at the Santiago Bernabeu, but claimed he wanted to leave with a bang.

He also confessed that he did not want to feel like a problem in Madrid and, considering that he had promised himself that Los Blancos would be his last club, he chose to retire.

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On his Einfach mal Luppen podcast, Kroos said: “Anyone who has listened to me carefully over the last few years will have heard me say at some point that the only option for me is to finish my career at Real Madrid.

“My last season at Real means that this summer will be the end.

“Even outside of sport, I think it was probably the hardest decision of my life. Thank God I didn’t have to make a more difficult decision in my private life. Starting football at the age of six years and achieve it at an optimal level To some extent, until the age of 34… it’s a very, very serious decision if football has always been the center of your life. That’s why this. is not that easy.

“I was already a bit on the verge of making this decision a year ago. So it was already made. But I was also thinking about it for a long time. Looking back, I have to say it was the right decision. to continue for another year, because things really went as I hoped.

“I stayed healthy, it wasn’t too much for my body, it was another full season without injuries. Plus I had a lot of fun in most of the games, I managed to maintain my level and we succeeded as a team.

“It’s always a big goal when you think about retirement, that you want to make your retirement successful. Even before the Champions League final, I can say that the season was successful. Now it seems to be the ideal time.

“I never wanted to feel like the club, the fans and the people around me had to tell me ‘it’s over’ at the end, or that I would end up sitting here on the bench for another two or three years .

“In a way, it wouldn’t be career-worthy, so I’m content, happy and a little proud that I was able to avoid all those things. It’s a nice feeling.”

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