Toni Kroos, one of Real Madrid’s modern-day legends, recently opened up about his journey with the club—and how, despite appearances, his affection for Los Blancos didn’t begin in childhood.
During his acceptance speech for the Order of Merit of the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the now-retired midfielder clarified a long-standing myth. Back in 2014, just before his arrival at Real Madrid, a childhood photo of him wearing the club’s 2001–2002 away jersey (famously worn by Luís Figo) circulated online, leading many fans to believe Kroos had always been a Madridista.
“I was wearing a Figo Real Madrid shirt. I didn't know then how much it would help me,” Kroos admitted. “I wasn’t a Real Madrid fan, but that photo came out on social media. And of course, all the Real Madrid fans were saying, ‘Kroos is a Real Madrid fan; he's had a Real Madrid shirt since he was seven.’ It wasn’t true, but the photo helped me.”
In truth, Kroos supported Werder Bremen in his youth—a club enjoying a golden era at the time, with domestic titles and even a European Cup Winners' Cup in 1992. His early professional career saw him rise through Bayern Munich’s system, with a key development loan at Bayer Leverkusen, before making the move to Madrid in 2014 after stalled renewal talks in Munich.
Despite not growing up a fan, Kroos would go on to carve out a historic career in white. Over a decade at Real Madrid, he played 465 matches, won five Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey, four UEFA Super Cups, and five Club World Cups, among other honors—securing his legacy as one of the club’s all-time greats.
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