Serial winner Kroos eyes two-trophy finish to career

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – UEFA Nations League – League A – Group 4 – Germany v Switzerland – RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany – October 13, 2020. Germany’s Toni Kroos wearing a shirt commemorating his 100th match for Germany REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay<br />

Toni Kroos, a world champion and five-time Champions League winner, is eyeing two more major trophies after announcing on Tuesday he will retire after Euro 2024.

Kroos, who had stepped down from international duty after Germany’s last-16 Euros exit to England in 2021, answered a call from manager Julian Nagelsmann to return to the international setup in February.

This summer’s European Championship, which kicks off on June 14 when Germany face Scotland in Munich, will be the last time the 2014 World Cup winner takes the field competitively.

At club level, the 34-year-old will play one final match for Real Madrid in front of the club’s home fans, on Saturday against Real Betis, with the La Liga title already in the bag.

Kroos will then face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final on June 1.
In announcing his retirement on the podcast he co-presents with his brother Felix, he said his “huge goal” was to “win that one at Wembley”.

Victory would mean a sixth Champions League trophy, equalling the record set by Real Madrid winger Paco Gento in 1966, the latest title in a glittering career for the man from the town on the Baltic Sea coast.

– Greifswald to Madrid, via Munich –
Born in Greifswald, then part of East Germany, in 1990, Kroos joined Bayern’s youth setup from Hansa Rostock aged 16 and was promoted to the seniors just one year later.

Kroos became Bayern’s youngest ever professional player when he made his debut aged 17 years and 265 days, laying on an assist