Germany and Real Madrid great Toni Kroos to retire after Euro 2024
MADRID (AP) — Toni Kroos will retire from soccer after trying to give Real Madrid yet another Champions League trophy and lead Germany to the European Championship title at home.
The 34-year-old German midfielder said Tuesday it was a tough decision, but that the timing felt “somehow perfect.”
“I always wanted to leave at the peak of my abilities and I know, and from a lot of examples you see, that it isn’t easy, that you can miss that point in time very quickly,” Kroos said on a podcast he hosts with his brother.
“I never wanted to have the feeling at the end that the club, the fans, the people around me would have to tell me, ‘That’s enough,’ or that I’d spend another two or three years sitting on the bench.”
Madrid thanked Kroos and hailed his achievements with the team.
“Real Madrid would like to express its gratitude and affection to Toni Kroos, a player who will go down in Real Madrid history as one of our club and international football’s greatest legends,” the club said.