Exclusive: 'One of one' Toni Kroos one of football's ‘all-time greats’, says Owen Hargreaves
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Published 23/05/2024 at 08:17 GMT
Toni Kroos will be retiring from football after this summer's Euro 2024 tournament in his home country of Germany. The 34-year-old midfielder is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world in his position having helped Real Madrid to four La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns, with a fifth on the cards this season. TNT Sports pundit Owen Hargreaves has hailed the star.
German midfield legend Kroos to retire after Euro 2024
Owen Hargreaves has paid tribute to Toni Kroosm describing the retiring German legend as ‘one-of-one’ and an ‘all-time great’ of the game.
Kroos, 34, announced he would be hanging up his boots after this summer’s European Championship tournament in his native Germany, hoping to bring a fitting end to a glittering, trophy-filled career.
Before that, the midfielder will also feature for Real Madrid in this year’s Champions League final, which can be watched live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on June 1, as he looks to lift the trophy for the fifth time.
He also helped Real to this season’s La Liga title, a fourth in their colours having joined from Bayern Munich in 2014.
Hargreaves, who witnessed Kroos arrive at Bayern as a teenager, was effusive with praise for his former teammate, and his ascent to the very top of the game.
“I remember him coming to the Bayern first team when he was 16,” he told TNT Sports. “We signed him from Hansa Rostock. He was tiny! I remember our president at the time saying ‘this guy is going to be a number 10 one day’. And he was right.
“I don't think anybody could have envisioned he would have been this great. Probably one of the all-time greats really.
“Luca [Modric], Toni, depends who you like, but he's put himself in the mix I think as one of the all-timers.
“Shame he’s retiring really because the way he plays and the way he sees the game, he could play until 38-39 because he's doesn't rely on physical traits."
Hargreaves was also notably impressed with the manner in which Kroos was able to adapt his role to become one of the best players in the world in his position.
“He came through as a number 10,” added the former England midfielder. “And then obviously he moved to Real Madrid and there probably wasn't space for a number 10.
“Because of [Gareth] Bale, [Karim] Benzema, [Cristiano] Ronaldo he probably played a little bit deeper, and then he became this ball-playing quarterback at the back, where, you know, historically the defensive midfield player was like me, defensive!
“Toni played that position beautifully. Just because he's so smart, and an amazing player.
“Young players, if you want to play like somebody, Toni is your guy!”
Despite losing a key part of their team, Hargreaves wasn’t especially worried about Real Madrid replacing Kroos.
Accepting they may not find a like-for-like replacement, he suggested that the club have options both within the club as well as the ability to identify potential new signings, including another German in Florian Wirtz who has impressed at Bayer Leverkusen this season - albeit in a slightly different role.
“We’re all trying to recreate these players and cultures and stuff. You can't you know, they’re just one of one.
“To be fair, Real Madrid’s recruitment has been amazing. They’ve got [Aurelien] Tchouameni, they’ve got [Eduardo] Camavinga.
“I can see like a Florian Wirtz-type player. I think Jude [Bellingham] is probably going to play a little bit deeper next season.
“There's so many great players. Real have an unbelievable team coming together. It will be interesting to see who they get to fill that void
“They’ve got so many options, and the thing is that right now, they don't need anything so they can just sit and wait until they get the Tetris piece that fits in perfect.”
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