Kroos, the definitive evolution of German engineering

“A phenomenal player. We should not take our eyes off him,” Franz Beckenbauer said of the blond youngster who ruled over Germany’s play at the 2007 U-17 World Cup.

Toni Kroos already stood out 11 years ago, among the likes of Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller, fellow-pillars of a future world champion team.

Three years later, Kroos, who had by then turned 20, was already leading Germany’s senior team, as well as Bayern Munich, and he was starting to look like the man who would lead Germany to their fourth World Cup title in Brazil 2014.

Kroos was crucial in the historic 7-1 thrashing that Germany dealt hosts Brazil in the semifinals, in Belo Horizonte’s Mineirao stadium.

He not only provided an assist for the first goal, but also scored the fastest brace in World Cup history, with two goals in the space of 69 seconds.

Teammates had already nicknamed him “The Waiter,” for the ease in which he created play for them, following the group game against Portugal.

On that night in Salvador, in Germany’s 4-0 win over Portugal, Kroos made 73 passes on target, out of 76 attempts.

Statistics do not lie. He was the best player at an unforgettable tournament for Germany: he played every game, he was never substituted, he scored two goals, he handed four more to his teammates and he had an 84.8% success rate in passes.

“Strategic clarity, creativity and fantasy. He is essential for set pieces,” Germany manager Joachim Low said to explain Kroos’ qualities.

“We did not have that kind of player who is able to solve a game on his own, but no team was better than us as a unit,” Kroos himself said.

At 24, he was already on top of the world. school to put a contract on his desk, Kroos could not sign it. He was 17, and he needed his parents’ signatures.

On loan at Bayer Leverkusen, it was Heynckes w h o polished Germany’s gem.

Kroos r et urned to Munich to lift the Champ ions League trophy and, while his last manager in Bavaria, Pep Guardiola, described him as “Bayern’s Andres Iniesta,” he ended up setting the pace at Real Madrid.

“I am the right man,” he proclaimed on the day he signed for the Spanish giants.

In four seasons at Real Madrid, his successful pass rate has never been below an incredible 90%.

Kroos, who has two children with his long-time partner, is a quiet family man.

“He tackles football with his own, almost military rules,” says his biographer Manuel Pereira.

That obsession has made Kroos the leader of the current world champion. – dpa