Toni Kroos calls Real Madrid his ‘true home’, opens up on retirement – ‘I wanted to be…’ | OneFootball

Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has opened up about his deep connection with the club, calling Madrid his “new home” after spending a decade at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The German maestro, who announced his retirement at the end of the 2023-24 season, admitted that leaving his homeland for Madrid was a life-changing decision—one that ultimately shaped both his career and personal life.

“Real Madrid has given me a new home. I left my country for the first time with a family, with my wife and 8-month-old son.

“And now I’m here with three children, the oldest of whom is 11.

“We’ve found a home, and that goes hand in hand with your success,” Kroos shared, as quoted by MARCA.

On his retirement

Toni Kroos retired last year. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Kroos’ decision to retire was not made lightly, as he wanted to step away from football while still being an integral part of the team rather than fading due to physical decline.

“The decision wasn’t made overnight; it was a process. I wanted to be important for the team and not reach a point where people would say my physical level wasn’t the best or that my body was struggling,” he explained.

“It was a period of many conversations with my family, especially my wife. You can win many Champions Leagues and La Liga titles, but the farewell that people gave me is something difficult to explain.”

Champions League nights

Toni Kroos established a legacy at Real Madrid. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

The 35-year-old also reflected on the magic of European nights at the Santiago Bernabéu, a stadium where he played a crucial role in many historic comebacks.

“The most important thing is to create a united atmosphere for the team and the stadium to go hand in hand; otherwise, it’s much more difficult.

“We’ve experienced situations that seemed almost impossible, like the semi-final against Bayern in the last Champions League,” Kroos recalled.

“The fans give us confidence, create an atmosphere with just a few actions, and give us that extra boost.”

Having won everything there is to win with Los Blancos, Kroos bows out as one of the club’s greatest-ever midfielders, leaving behind a legacy of elegance, composure, and relentless success.