Real Madrid News
Real Madrid legend on international future after UEFA Nations League: “I’m clear about it”
It was heartbreak once more for Luka Modric and the Croatian national team on Sunday night. Facing Luis de la Fuente’s Spain, they fell to a defeat only on penalties in the final of the UEFA Nations League.
Ahead of the tournament, Modric made a big statement about his future with the national team by stating that he had taken a binding decision on his continuity. However, he prioritised the task at hand and refused to reveal his choice.
“I’m focused on the Nations League now. I’ve made a decision, but we’ll talk about my future with Croatia when the Nations League is over,” he had said.
The veteran was unsurprisingly asked to provide a follow-up response to the same after last night’s clash against Spain. His response, understandably, did not change as revealed by Fabrizio Romano.
“My future with the national team? I have decided my future, I am clear about it but I’m not going to say it today,” the Real Madrid legend said.
At 37 years of age, there is really only one way an announcement of such magnitude can go.
After impressive campaigns with the Croatian international team in the last two FIFA World Cups, and most recently the UEFA Nations League, all signs point to Modric’s retirement from the international stage.
However, Modric has continued to defy the odds and continue to perform at the highest level despite his age. And he could look to keep going on with Croatia until the UEFA Euros next year.
Heading into the upcoming season, the veteran is likely to see a reduced role under Carlo Ancelotti as well. New signing Jude Bellingham and rising star Eduardo Camavinga are seen as regular starters for the campaign and which could lead to Modric being used sparingly. Nevertheless, he will continue to play a critical part on the big nights for Los Blancos.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
