When Toni Kroos retired in 2024 he did so a legend.

A midfielder of rare repute, the German pass-master won everything there was to win in the game, including the Champions League on six occasions, five of them with Real Madrid, a club that adored him.

In 2014 his refined link-up play helped Germany win the World Cup while across five different seasons he was nominated for a Ballon d’Or, finishing ninth in his swansong campaign.

Naturally therefore, it was widely anticipated that Kroos would remain in football in some meaningful capacity, with many Madrileños hoping that one of their greatest ever talents would ultimately reverse his decision and return to the Bernabeu, controlling proceedings on the pitch once again.

That possibility however has repeatedly been ruled out by the now 36-year-old, saying recently…

“I stopped exactly as I wanted to. I closed the book; even if I were to think about going back, though it’s too late now, I always felt it couldn’t have ended any better. Everything that came after would have been worse.”

Instead, Kroos has focused on fatherhood, as well as enjoying some punditry work, but claims emerging from the Spanish media of late suggests that may change, with reports suggesting that a coaching role awaits in the Spanish capital.

Earlier this month, AS stated that Madrid are ‘preparing for Kroos’ with ‘senior figures at Valdebebas aligned on integrating’ their former captain ‘into the club’s sporting structure’ next season.

Indeed, it gets even more tantalising, with several rumours swirling around that Jurgen Klopp could be recruited over the summer for the main hot-seat, prompting the potential of a dream partnership in the Madrid dug-out as they seek to reclaim dominance of La Liga after ceding ground to Barcelona in 2025/26.

With Klopp also being tipped for the German national job post-World Cup, and Kroos adamant that he is presently very happy with his lot, this intriguing narrative remains speculative for the time being.

It’s surely enough though to have Madrid’s large legion of supporters scanning the media for developments, hoping for an imminent reunion with one of their most treasured sons.