Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos will undertake a coaching role at the club after his retirement from football.
The German will hang up his boots at the conclusion of Euro 2024 after a glittering 17-year career.
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Kroos ended his Real Madrid career in style last weekend, helping the La Liga giants win a record-extending 15th European Cup.
The 34-year-old shocked fans when he announced his retirement on May 21, despite appearing to still be at the peak of his powers.
A statement read: "The day of my presentation at Real Madrid, the day that changed my life. My life as a footballer - but especially as a person.
"It was the start of a new chapter at the biggest club in the world. After 10 years, at the end of the season this chapter comes to an end. I will never forget that insolent successful time!
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"I am happy and proud that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it on my own. My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level.”
But any chance of a U-turn is seemingly now off the cards after Kroos announced his next move on Friday.
"I will work in the Real Madrid youth academy,” the decorated midfielder told German outlet Kicker.
Kroos’ presence at the club’s training complex is arguably the next best thing to having the German on the pitch with Madrid’s new crop of talent in line to benefit from his expertise.
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He joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2014 for a bargain £25million shortly after lifting the World Cup with Germany.
Kroos quickly found success in the Spanish capital winning a total of five Champions League’s adding the one he won with Bayern in 2013.
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Four La Liga title wins, a Copa del Rey triumph and a total of six FIFA Club World Cup wins all followed for the German.
And few would be surprised if the midfielder capped off his decorated career by winning Euro 2024 in his homeland this summer.