Toni Kroos reportedly considers coaching as Real Madrid look to the future
Toni Kroos may be preparing for a new chapter in football. The former Germany and Real Madrid midfielder is reportedly interested in joining a specialist coaching course run by the Spanish football federation, the RFEF, according to Spanish newspaper AS. Completing the programme could qualify him to coach professional teams across every level of the game.
The reported move would mark a significant step for a player whose influence was built on control, precision and tactical intelligence. Kroos has already earned a coaching licence that allows him to work with teams up to Spain’s third division. However, under his current qualification, he can only serve as an assistant coach in the professional game. The federation’s course for current and former professionals could open the door to a wider range of roles.
From elite midfielder to potential coach
Kroos retired in 2024 after one of the most decorated playing careers of his generation. He won the Champions League six times, collecting titles with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, and helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His final season ended in fitting fashion: another Champions League triumph with Real Madrid, followed by a home European Championship with Germany.
His decision to step away while still performing at the highest level surprised many supporters. Yet retirement has not taken him far from the sport. In Madrid, he has been involved with the Toni Kroos Academy, a football school focused on developing young players. He also continues to discuss the game alongside his brother Felix on their podcast, Einfach mal Luppen.
Those activities give Kroos opportunities to share his experience, but formal coaching would demand a different kind of involvement. A coach must translate ideas into training plans, communicate with players of varied backgrounds and make decisions under pressure. Kroos’s reputation for reading matches and delivering clear, accurate passes could provide a strong foundation, although coaching success depends on more than a brilliant understanding of the game.
Could Real Madrid be part of Kroos’s next move?
Real Madrid are reportedly interested in finding a role for their former midfielder. Club president Florentino Perez is said to have held discussions with Kroos about returning to the organisation, though the talks have not yet produced an agreement. The nature of any proposed position has not been confirmed, and Kroos is understood to be pursuing his own plans rather than rushing into a prominent job.
A coaching qualification could make a future return more realistic. Real Madrid have previously seen former players develop through the club’s youth system before taking charge of the first team. Zinedine Zidane, Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa are among the names associated with that pathway. Their careers show how a close connection to the club can become a coaching advantage, while also underlining that each manager must build a record of their own.
Kroos would bring exceptional credibility to a dressing room, particularly at a club where standards are shaped by success in Europe and Spain. He could also offer a distinctive perspective on midfield organisation, possession and decision-making. Still, his eventual destination remains a matter of speculation. The immediate priority, according to the report, is gaining the necessary qualification.
Real Madrid’s post-Kroos challenge
Kroos’s departure left a sizeable gap in Real Madrid’s midfield. His calmness under pressure and ability to dictate the rhythm of a match were central to the team’s identity for years. Replacing those qualities is not simply a matter of signing another player: they depend on how a squad is balanced, how its midfielders share responsibilities and how effectively the team controls games.
Real have reportedly gone without a major title since Kroos left in 2024, making his absence an increasingly prominent part of the club’s wider conversation. The comparison should not be treated as proof that one player alone determined the team’s fortunes. Injuries, recruitment, tactical changes and competition from domestic rivals all influence a season. But Kroos’s departure did remove a rare combination of experience and technical control that had been difficult to replicate.
In the current campaign, Real are said to be fourth in the Primera Division, six points behind Barcelona. Jose Mourinho is listed as the club’s coach in the supplied report, while the team’s position points to a demanding title chase. With the season still developing, the gap is a snapshot rather than a final verdict. Real’s response in upcoming league fixtures will help determine whether they can close ground on their rivals.
Early prediction: experience could help, but coaching is a new test
Any prediction about Kroos’s coaching future should be cautious. His playing career suggests he has the tactical awareness and authority to make a compelling transition, and his academy work may have given him an initial connection to player development. However, moving from the pitch to the touchline involves new pressures: managing personalities, planning across a full season and accepting responsibility for results rather than individual performances.
If Kroos completes the RFEF course, he could begin by building experience away from the spotlight of a major club. That route would let him test his methods, learn from setbacks and establish a coaching identity before considering a high-profile appointment. A return to Real Madrid would attract enormous attention, but taking time to develop could be the more practical path.
For now, the report points to a former champion exploring his options rather than confirming a coaching appointment. Kroos has already shown that he is willing to leave football on his own terms. Whether his next contribution comes through youth development, an assistant role or eventually a senior coaching position, his understanding of the game is likely to keep him connected to football for years to come.
