10 Interesting Facts about Toni Kroos.
- Think Football Ideas
- May 1
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
It has been a remarkable career for Germany and Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest central midfielders of his generation.
After breaking into the Bayern Munich first team as a youngster, Kroos went on to dominate in the Bundesliga and Champions League before establishing himself as a key player for Spanish giants Real Madrid.
During his time in Spain, Kroos became one of Real Madrid’s most decorated players and played a major role in multiple Champions League triumphs.
Over the course of his career, he enjoyed tremendous success on both the domestic and international stages, winning countless trophies and earning a reputation as one of football’s finest playmakers.
Kroos played with the composure of a veteran throughout his career, and he excelled in several areas of the game. He possessed fantastic vision and passing ability, and playing in the middle of the park meant he was always heavily involved in the action.
He was also a tenacious player who knew how to put in a challenge, making him both versatile and hugely valuable for club and country. There have been few midfielders who have performed as consistently at the top level over the last decade as Toni Kroos, yet there are still plenty of interesting things many fans may not know about the German icon.
Here are 10 interesting facts about Germany and Real Madrid's midfield master.
1. He Started at Greifswalder SC
Toni Kroos has played for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid and lifted countless trophies in his career. It all began at Greifswalder SC in his hometown, and at age 12, he joined Hansa Rostock’s youth team, where his father was coaching.
After impressing them here, Bayern Munich scouts soon took notice, and he was snapped up by them in 2006.
2. He Became Bayern Munich’s Youngest Professional Player at the Time of His Debut
After just one year in Bayern Munich’s youth setup, Kroos had impressed enough to begin training with the senior team and making appearances in friendlies.
He made his Bundesliga debut shortly after, coming on in a 5-0 victory over Energie Cottbus and assisting two goals.
At 17 years, 8 months and 22 days old, Kroos became Bayern Munich’s youngest professional player at the time, although that record was later broken by Denmark midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
3. He Broke Through on Loan at Bayer Leverkusen
In 2009, Kroos was loaned to Bayer 04 Leverkusen for 18 months, and it was here that he showed his potential and became a key figure in their attack.
He appeared in all but 1 game in their 2009/10 season and would win back-to-back Player of the Month awards. He finished the season with 9 goals and 12 assists in 33 matches, and upon returning to Bayern Munich, he soon earned his spot in the starting line-up.
4. He Has Three Children with Long-term Partner Jessica Farber
Kroos has been with his long-term partner Jessica Farber for many years, and the pair have built a family together during his playing career.
Unlike many partners of high-profile footballers, Jessica largely keeps herself out of the spotlight and maintains a low profile away from the media. She was often seen supporting Kroos at Real Madrid and Germany matches alongside their children throughout his career.
5. He was the Player of the Tournament at the 2007 U17 World Cup
After Kroos’ hugely impressive performances at the 2014 World Cup, he became one of the most talked-about footballers on the planet, but it was not the first time he had shone on the international stage.
During the 2007 FIFA U17 World Cup in South Korea, Kroos won the Player of the Tournament award and helped Germany finish third while contributing five goals. A few years later, he broke into the senior national team and appeared at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
6. He Lifted 5 Trophies in 2014 with 3 Different Teams
2014 was a remarkable year for Kroos, and he impressively lifted 5 trophies with 3 different teams. With Munich, Kroos won the DFB Cup and Bundesliga before having a fantastic summer and lifting the World Cup trophy.
He then made a famous move to Real Madrid, where he would win the UEFA Super Cup in his debut match. To cap things off, Kroos played in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup Final in December, beating San Lorenzo 2-0 for his 5th trophy in 2014.
7. Passing Accuracy Became One of His Greatest Strengths
Kroos was a fantastic all-round central midfielder who excelled in many areas of the game, but perhaps his greatest strength was his passing ability.
It was extremely rare to see him lose possession carelessly, whether playing short passes, long balls, or defence-splitting through balls.
Throughout his career, Kroos consistently ranked among the most accurate passers in European football, and having a player with such composure and technical quality in midfield was a huge asset for both club and country.
8. He was Given the Nickname “Garcon”
So brilliant was Kroos’ passing ability that he earned the nickname “Garcon” or “The Waiter” during the 2014 World Cup.
Kroos was feeding his teammates such appetising passes and setting them up so well throughout the tournament that members of the Brazilian media felt he deserved the nickname after completing 76 out of 79 passes in a group-stage match against Portugal.
9. Statistically, He Was the Best Player at the 2014 World Cup
According to the Castrol Index (FIFA-approved ranking), there was no player better in the tournament in Brazil than Toni Kroos. The criteria included passes, tackles, distance covered, and goals, with Kroos scoring a remarkable 9.79 out of 10.
Kroos was in fine form throughout the competition, most notably against the host nation, where he scored twice in a shock 7-1 thrashing. Despite his Castrol Index ranking and fine play, it was Lionel Messi who won the Golden Ball for the competition.
10. He Won the 2014 IFFHS World’s Best Playmaker Award
There have been many terrific playmakers in modern football, including players such as Eden Hazard, Yaya Toure, James Rodriguez, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.
In 2014, however, none were considered better than Toni Kroos by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics, who crowned him the World’s Best Playmaker for the year.
Kroos broke Barcelona’s dominance of the award after their players had won it in each of the previous six years, narrowly beating Messi following a sensational campaign for both club and country.
Following his retirement after Euro 2024, Toni Kroos left behind the legacy of one of the most composed and intelligent midfielders of his era.
From Bayern Munich to Real Madrid and Germany, his influence on the game was enormous, and after winning multiple league titles, six UEFA Champions League trophies, and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he will be remembered as one of football’s great midfield orchestrators.
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