When he announced his international retirement after winning 106 caps in 11 years for Germany, Toni Kroos said he wanted to focus on his role at Real Madrid.
The move proved fruitful for both club and player, as Los Blancos won a 35th La Liga title, a 14th UEFA Champions League/European Cup and a 12th Spanish Super Cup during a 2021 campaign. /22 memorable.
What they say
“He has a very good overview of the pitch. You could cover your eyes with your hands, and he would still tell you that on the right, 50 meters away, is Thomas Müller and on the left, Mesut Özil , 25 yards. one way.”
Stefan Reinartz, former Leverkusen and Germany team-mate
“Toni is very smart. A lot of times when things go wrong we tend to blame the players who seem calmer or more technical. But those players are the bravest, the ones with the most guts. Toni is the bravest of all in the most difficult times.”
Pep Guardiola, former Bayern coach
“I’ve never seen [Kroos] lose the ball. His game is always elegant and efficient. He never has a bad day. He loves football and always wants to play. For me, playing is the main thing. Winning, yes, but playing is the main thing and that’s how it is for both of us.”
Zinedine Zidane, former Madrid coach
“Toni Kroos is a role model for the rest of the team with the way he approaches his job. He always puts in that extra bit of work before and after training – he’s a consummate professional.”
Joachim Löw, former Germany coach
“It’s not difficult with the players [like Kroos] because they are intelligent and humble. They know they are important, even if they don’t always play. Dealing with them is the easiest thing I’ve had in my career.”
Carlo Ancelotti, Madrid coach
Current count
International: 106 appearances, 17 goals
UEFA club competition: 141 appearances, 12 goals
National competition: 488 appearances, 52 goals
Claims to fame
Bayern and Leverkusen
• Kroos joined Bayern aged 16 in 2006 from Hansa Rostock and in 2007/08 Ottmar Hitzfeld promoted him to the first team.
• Kroos made his Bayern debut on 26 September 2007 against Energie Cottbus and at the time, aged 17 years and 265 days, he was the club’s youngest player, a record later broken by David Alaba.
• The following month he scored a late winner against Crvena zvezda on his European debut in the UEFA Cup.
• Loaned to Bayer Leverkusen for 18 months from January 2009, he established himself as a starter.
• Returning to Bayern in 2010, the youngster helped them reach the 2012 Champions League final and do better the following season. However, Kroos missed the end of the 2012/13 season, including the Champions League final, through injury.
• Left Bayern for Madrid in the summer of 2014 after winning another German double as well as the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.
real Madrid
• Kroos won a trophy on his Madrid debut, the UEFA Super Cup, and also helped Los Blancos triumph in the Club World Cup by establishing himself early.
• The midfielder featured in Madrid’s Champions League victories in 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2021/22. No German player has won the competition more often. He also lifted the Club World Cup during those years.
• La Liga titles have been clinched in 2016/17, 2019/20 and 2021/22, with Kroos now fast approaching 400 Madrid appearances.
Germany
• Selected a year earlier at the Under-17s, Kroos impressed at EURO U17s 2006 and 2007 and led Germany to bronze at the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, being named MVP of the tournament .
• Made his debut against Argentina on 3 March 2010 and played in the World Cup that year, making four appearances including the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
• During UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying, Kroos was a regular player. In the final, Germany advanced to the last four, with Kroos going unusually detailed to score Andrea Pirlo in a 2-1 loss.
• Kroos reached his peak at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, setting up the quarter-final winner against France and then starring in the hosts’ 7-1 demolition in the semi-finals with two goals. He played the 120 minutes of the final victory against Argentina.
• It was his only major honor with Germany, although at the 2018 World Cup his superb stoppage-time free-kick scorer against Sweden was the culmination of a disappointing title defence.
• Picked up his 100th cap on 13 October 2020 in a UEFA Nations League game against Switzerland, but withdrew after the UEFA EURO 2020 round of 16 loss to England in June next.
What you may not know
• At the school in Evershagen, he was made to play football barefoot at PE. His teacher Sieglinde Heimann said Die Welt“Otherwise the others wouldn’t have had a chance.”
• Named UEFA Champions League Team of the Season for five consecutive years between 2013/14 and 2017/18, and named UEFA.com Fans’ Team of the Year three times.
• Also featured in the 2014 World Cup and UEFA EURO 2016 tournament squads.
• Carlo Ancelotti nicknamed Kroos ‘Professor’ at Real Madrid because of the way he replaced the nicknamed Xabi Alonso.
What he says
“I hope to be in the reserves next year and maybe in the next few years I will be in the Bayern first team.” Kroos speaking to UEFA.com during EURO U17 2007.
“I won a lot of trophies, I played with fantastic players and I worked with the best coaches, so I have very good memories of Bayern.”
“I know at this club you are expected to win trophies, but I am the right man for this because I am used to winning.” Kroos upon his arrival in Madrid.
“I want to focus fully on my goals with Real Madrid for the next few years. Also, from now on, I will deliberately allow myself breaks that haven’t existed as a national player for 11 years.” Kroos on his retirement to Germany.
What he could still accomplish
• Only five players have won more than the four Champions League titles won by Kroos. He would drop to Cristiano Ronaldo’s level of five if Madrid lift the trophy again in 2023, although teammates Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal and Luka Modrić could push the record further if that happens.
• He is currently 32 and his plans beyond 2023, when his contract at Madrid ends, are unclear. He said in an interview, “Don’t expect me to play until I’m 38.”
Honors
bavaria
2013 UEFA Super Cup
FIFA Club World Cup 2013
Bundesliga 2008, 2013, 2014
German Cup 2013, 2014
Madrid
Champions League 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022
UEFA Super Cup 2014, 2017, 2022
FIFA Club World Cup 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018
League 2017, 2020, 2022
Germany
FIFA World Cup 2014