Real Madrid bids adieu to German player Toni Kroos at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
With Real guaranteed as La Liga champions and all European qualification and relegation slots decided, a goalless draw with Real Betis was mostly meaningless, thus the evening was about commemorating the 34-year-old Kroos.
After an incredible ten years with the Spanish powerhouses, German midfielder Toni Kroos played his final home game on Saturday in front of a sold-out Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
The evening was devoted to honoring the 34-year-old Kroos because a goalless draw with Real Betis was almost meaningless now that Real was officially declared the La Liga winner and all European qualifying and relegation slots were decided.
After making 464 appearances and helping Real Madrid win more than 20 major trophies, including four European Cups, one of the team’s most successful players ever, Kroos declared he will retire following this year’s European Championship on home soil.
Fighting back tears, he entered the ground through a tunnel built by teammates sporting his number eight shirt while supporters waved a massive banner with his picture and the words “Thank you, legend” covering the south stand.
After being substituted and earning another standing ovation, Kroos embraced his three weeping children on the sidelines in the 85th minute, which caused him to cry.
For several minutes, the game was halted while Kroos gave hugs to all of his teammates and his coach. The crowd cheered for about thirty minutes while Kroos, his family, and teammates performed a lap of honor after the referee blew the final whistle.
“All I can say is thank you to the Madridismo, the stadium, my teammates, and the club,” Kroos uttered.
“Over the past ten years, I’ve always felt at home. It was all I could ask for. These ten years have been very remarkable.
“I was pretty strong until I saw my children, that moment killed me,” Kroos stated.
