Toni Kroos takes step towards coaching career with Spanish course plan

Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has told the Spanish Football Federation that he is interested in joining a coaching course for professional players, marking a further move towards a future in management.

The course is scheduled to take place during the 2027-2028 season, according to Spanish newspaper AS. Kroos currently holds a recognised coaching qualification up to the third level of football.

Completing the professional players’ course would allow the 2014 World Cup winner to obtain an A licence. That qualification would enable him to coach teams at any level, according to the report.

Under his current accreditation, Kroos is permitted to sit on the bench as an assistant coach. However, he cannot become a first-team head coach in either the first or second division.

Kroos ended his playing career after Euro 2024, having spent the final decade of it at Real Madrid. He has now been away from the competitive side of football for two years and has started to consider the dugout as a possible destination within the sport in which he established himself as one of the world’s leading players.

Real Madrid considered bringing Kroos back into the club’s structure last year. His visits to the academy that carries his name have also maintained his connection with the Spanish club.

The German continues to work at the academy he founded in Boadilla, where he helps young players develop and progress. His involvement with the next generation has kept him close to football while he has been separated from the demands of professional competition.

Kroos joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2014 and became one of the defining midfielders in the club’s history, winning major honours during his time in Spain. The possibility of coaching would offer him a new role in the game after his celebrated playing career.

For now, his next step is expected to be formal training rather than an immediate return to the touchline. By notifying the Spanish Football Federation of his interest in the 2027-2028 course, Kroos has begun the process of securing the qualification required to take charge as a head coach.