How big is Toni Kroos’ Legacy in world football?

The world of football is not often shocked when a player announces his retirement from the beautiful game.

Not often do players leave an incredible mark and keep fans wishing for more when they declare their intention to step away from the game.

But this was exactly what happened when Real Madrid and Germany maestro Toni Kroos announced his retirement from football at the end of this season.

It was thought that the German international was close to agreeing to a contract extension at the Spanish capital, which would have seen him stay at Santiago Bernabeu for the 2024-25 season. 

However, the 34-year-old confirmed he will be calling time on his professional career, with his final bow set to be on home soil at this summer's European Championship.

What a career Kroos has had. What a way to bow out of the game.

Unorthodox Kroos

The Germany international is still one of the best players in the world and could still command a hefty salary if he had chosen to keep playing, whether in Real Madrid or another top European club. 

He could have chosen to follow in the footsteps of fellow Real Madrid legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema and retire in Saudi Arabia, where he could earn enormous amounts.

However, as is often the case in his career, Kroos has chosen to do things his way.

Kroos loves the unusual; he lives life the way he wants, not the way others detect it. The German is an unorthodox player who has lasted for over ten decades at the top due to his penchant for charting his own path and sticking to it. 

This rare quality is exemplified in Kroos’ choice of boots. In a generation where players opt for boots of varying colours, designs, and shapes, donning messages and self-promotion, Kroos has stuck by his tried-and-tested Adidas Adipure 11pro boots.

The brand was initially launched in 2013, but after a few years, Adidas discontinued producing it. But that did not deter Kroos, and thanks to Adidas continuing to custom-make the boot for him, the Germany international is able to play in a pair he feels comfortable in rather than go for the more glamorous boots, as is with his peers, who often go for a manufacturer’s latest model.

Kroos’ unconventional way of thinking also shines through in his decision to retire at the top rather than wait till he is no longer at the peak of his powers. 

To many Real Madrid and Kroos fans, the timing of his retirement was off, as he is still a great player and can command a starting berth in many top teams, at least for the next two or three seasons.

However, as per the player, the timing was perfect for him because it was not a forced decision. He has always maintained that he wanted to finish his career at the peak of his performance level. 

So retiring at the age of 34, not because of injury or a drop in form, is typical of Kroos. The midfielder would rather walk away than become a bench player or a liability for his club due to the injuries that come from old age.

Indeed, Real Madrid and football fans will miss him. He was a joy to watch on his day, and although not one of the most glamorous players of this generation, he was a solid midfielder who was able to control games and pick the perfect pass when necessary. 

Kroos gave Real Madrid tickets holders ten solid years of good football, so leaving now, though too early, is understandable and even noteworthy, as it takes great discipline to do. 

He still has one more final and trophy to deliver for Real Madrid, with his last game for Los Blancos set to be in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.

For German fans, Kroos has one more swansong and will be desperate to end his international career with the Euro 2024 trophy. 

The 34-year-old has been a household name in Germany since 2007 when he won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea. 

He also won the Bronze Shoe after scoring five goals in that tournament. Since gaining promotion to the senior team, he has been one of the nation’s most influential players, helping them win the World Cup in 2014.

So when he announced his retirement from international football in 2021, many fans were sorrowful. However, three years later, he has since rejoined the German national team after being approached by new manager Julian Nagelsmann, and he is part of the squad for the 2024 European Championship. 

His experience and technical ability gives Germany a fighting chance, making them one of the favourites to win the tournament.

Kroos' Legacy

Kroos may not have the same highlight reel or enjoy the popularity that the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Zinedine Zidane, Frank Lampard, Andres Pirlo, or even teammate Luka Modric enjoyed, but the German is certainly in the same league as these players in terms of technical ability and trophy collection.

Though he is most celebrated as a Real Madrid legend, he certainly is one of Bayern Munich’s most influential players in the last 15 years. 

Kroos made his Bayern debut in 2007, aged 17 years, coming off the bench to register two assists in 18 minutes in a 5–0 win over Energie Cottbus.

At the time of his debut, Kroos was the youngest player ever to represent Bayern in a professional match at 17 years and 265 days old, a record since broken by David Alaba in 2010. 

Though he left the Bavarian club somewhat acrimoniously, he left as one of their most successful players as he was part of the treble-winning Bayern team during the 2012–13 season.

He made 205 appearances at the Allianz Arena, scoring 24 goals and registering 49 assists. He also won three Bundesliga titles, the UEFA Champions League and six other trophies with Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, while he is not so celebrated at Bayern Munich, who sold him for almost nothing in 2014, he will go down as one of the greatest players in Real's history. 

The 34-year-old was a vital part of the most successful Madrid teams in recent history, winning four league titles and four UCL titles in his ten years at the club. 

He has won a total of 21 titles at Santiago Bernabeu and will have the chance to add to his trophy haul when Real take on Borussia Dortmund in this season's Champions League final on June 1, which will be his last game in the famous white shirt.

Kroos has recorded 28 goals and 98 assists in 463 appearances for the club across all competitions. He is among the top ten most decorated players in the club’s history, and among the players currently at the club, only Luka Modric has made more appearances for Los Blancos.

The veteran midfielder has also enjoyed massive success at the international level, winning the World Cup in 2014. He will hope to end his career on the highest possible note when he plays for Germany at the Euros.

Future Expectation

Given his nature, predicting what is next for Toni Kroos is tricky.

The usual thing for footballers these days, especially those who enjoyed good playing careers, is to become football coaches. 

For a top player like Kroos, moving into management would be seamless, and there would be no shortage of suitors. He is highly regarded in the game, and his passing vision, understanding of the game and temperament will make him a top coach. The fact that he has trained under several top coaches will also make him an attractive prospect for most clubs.

However, the German hinted that he would follow a less popular path than most footballers. 

In 2020, when he was quizzed about the possibility of becoming a football coach, Kroos revealed he had no intentions of pursuing a career in coaching. According to him, he did not want the stress of travelling, spending half of his life in hotels and being away from family.

‘I don’t want that anymore,’ he said in 2020.

His retirement plan is to spend much time with his family in Spain, where he now calls home. He even revealed that he had no plans to return to his native Germany.

Nevertheless, Kroos revealed he is open to becoming a commentator and to coach a small youth team.

So, whatever becomes of him after now, it is safe to say that those who get their hands on the Champions League final ticket or the Euro 2024 tickets for  Germany's games will be lucky to be watching the last footballing days of a truly remarkable footballer.