Toni Kroos was left in tears as he said goodbye to the Santiago Bernabeu for the final time on Saturday, with players and fans giving the midfielder an emotional send-off.
The Germany international will bring his glittering career to a close at the conclusion of the upcoming European Championship, with his final club game being next week’s Champions League final.
Only a few thousand turned up to Kroos’ unveiling when he signed from Bayern Munich for just £20m in 2014 – turning down Manchester United at the time to move to the Spanish capital.
However, the entire stadium was packed out to say goodbye to the 34-year-old for the final LaLiga match of the season, with Madrid playing out a 0-0 draw with Real Betis after already being crowned league champions.
During his decorated tenure at the club, Kroos has won four league titles, the Copa del Rey, four Supercopa de Espanas, three UEFA Super Cups, the Club World Cup on five occasions, and a titanic four Champions League trophies, with a fifth European title looming in the distance.
Toni Kroos was emotional as he said farewell to the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening
Kroos was given a guard of honour by his Madrid team-mates and Real Betis players pre-match
All of his silverware achievements at Madrid were additionally put on display by the club
A huge tifo was erected in the stands at the Santiago Bernabeu reading the words ‘thank you legend’
Kroos looked stunned as he emerged into Madrid’s new state-of-the-art stadium before kick-off with his team-mates and Real Betis player making a guard of honour for him while a tifo was erected in the stands.
A huge banner of Kroos was erected with the words ‘thank you legend’ and the number 22 emblazoned across the design in relation to the titles he has won at the Spanish giants.
All of his silverware achievements at Madrid were additionally put on display by the club, with Kroos posing with the plethora of trophies before kick-off.
The former World Cup winner went on to play 87 minutes of the goalless draw before being substituted so that he could be given a standing ovation by the crowd.
Kroos was overwhelmed with emotion as as he picked up his daughter in the dugout after being substituted, with the pair sharing a heart-wrenching embrace as they broke down in tears.
Some of Kroos’ former Madrid colleagues were also in attendance to applaud his sensational career at the club, with Isco amongst those seen in the stands.
Kroos and his daughter burst into tears as he completed his final appearance in Spain
The Germany international was thrown into the air by his Madrid team-mates at the end of the game
It all proved to be too much for the usually steely Kroos as he was joined on the pitch by his family at full-time as he was joined by his family.
He occupied the centre circle with his two sons and daughter as Madrid stars and the club’s supporters turned the stadium into a cacophony of noise to celebrate one of their legends.
Tributes then piled in from his team-mates online with Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois posting on X: ‘It has been a very exciting day, especially seeing a legend say goodbye to his home. You deserve it.’
Kroos will make his final Madrid appearance next weekend when the Spanish giants travel to Wembley for the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.
