Toni Kroos: Retirement Comes With The New Rhythm
After two decades at the highest level of football, Toni Kroos announced his retirement and since then has stepped into a new chapter that isn’t defined by goals or trophies, but by purpose, passion, and presence. In this exclusive interview with Life After Football, the German icon opens up about the transition from elite athlete to everyday life. From freedom and family time to new business ventures, like his recent collaboration with Marc O’Polo, Kroos reflects on what truly matters now that the final whistle has blown.
Life After Football
“It surprised me that I don’t miss it,” Kroos says, reflecting on his decision to retire. “Football was part of my life since I was six years old. I thought I’d feel the void. But I don’t. That tells me I made the right call.”
For a player who orchestrated the midfield with surgical precision, leaving the pitch was always going to be a seismic shift. But for Kroos, it wasn’t a goodbye. It was a pivot.
“It helps that it was 100% my decision. Not my body. Not a club. Me.”
A New Rhythm
Gone are the rigid schedules of team meals, away days, and tactical briefings. In their place? School runs, afternoon meetings at his academy in Madrid, and long walks with the family dogs.
“I’m still working a lot—sometimes more than before,” he says. “It’s not vacation. People think that because I’m not playing, I’m relaxing. That’s not the case. But now, everything I do is because I want to. Not because I have to.”
His days are now built around his children and the Toni Kroos Academy—a project that’s quickly become the center of his attention and energy. “I love football. I love working with kids. Putting those together made sense,” he explains. “I go there every day. It’s my new purpose.”
After his retirement from football, Toni Kroos feels more grounded. Years of constant travel took a toll. “The thing I hated most about football was being away from home. Now I’m always here. That means a lot.”
Lessons from the Game
Even with his playing days behind him, the mindset that carried him through World Cups and Champions League finals remains intact.
“Whatever you do in life, it won’t come easy. You have to put in the work.”
Success, he says, was never just about talent. “A lot of people thought it came easy to me because I was gifted. But the truth is: it’s the mix of talent and work that makes the difference.”
That drive hasn’t faded. It’s just been redirected into projects like his academy, his podcast with brother Felix, and the long-running Toni Kroos Foundation in Germany. “I think it’s important to keep going. If you just stop and do nothing, you won’t be happy for long.”
No Brand Without Belief
After his final season, Kroos partnered with fashion label Marc O’Polo. The collaboration that made headlines for its authenticity. “I’ve always said no to brand deals that didn’t fit. With Marc O’Polo, it was natural. Their style matched mine even before we worked together.”
“You can tell when someone’s faking it. You have to believe in what you represent. I always say: If you do something – do it good.”
Fashion wasn’t always part of his story. “When I was 16, I didn’t care what I wore—as long as it was my football kit,” he laughs. “But over time, your personality grows. And so does your style.”
Madrid: The Making of a Man
Having lived in Madrid for over a decade, Kroos credits the city and its lifestyle for shaping who he is today. “This is where I became a real man. My personality, my values, my routine. They all developed here.”
And it’s the simple things that bring him the most joy now: freedom, mornings without pressure, taking the kids to school. “Just waking up and deciding what I want to do with my day—that’s something I really missed,” he admits.
Still Hungry
He may have traded boots for business plans, but even in retirement Toni Kroos remains a man on a mission. “There are no more trophies to win, but I have new goals now. And just like in football, they won’t come on their own.”
Asked if he’d change anything about his career, he shakes his head. “Even the mistakes. They teach you. They shape you. I’d leave it all as it was. I feel happy.”
Ready for more?
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