FMV: Tours Presents.. Toni Kroos

Name: Toni Kroos
D/O/B: 04/01/1990
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Club: Bayer Leverkusen (Germany) – on loan from Bayern Munich (Germany)

Background
Toni Kroos is widely labelled as one of the hottest prospects in German football. After signing for Bayern Munich in 2006 as a 16-year-old, he make his debut for their first team a year later. Uli Hoeneß, Bayern’s President, promised Kroos the club’s number 10 shirt after he had more experience under his belt. This led to him being loaned out to fellow Bundesliga side, Bayer Leverkusen for the duration of the 2009-10 season. To date, Kroos hasn’t appeared for the full German national side, but has represented his country at U16, U17, U19 and U21 level. However, in January of this year, he was called up to a training camp with the senior squad for the first time.

Attributes

Positions

Tactics
Kroos’ attributes are put to best use when he is deployed in a central midfield position. He is a natural Attacking Midfielder, but works equally as well in a regular Centre Midfield role. He would be best suited to the Playmaker role, and should be allowed a lot of creative freedom if you wish to take advantage of his most impressive attributes. Due to his relatively poor defensive skills, I would advise that you assign him the minimum defensive duties as possible. This could be compensated by placing a defensively-minded player behind him in Central Midfield, in order to balance out the partnership. In terms of formation, it really depends how much of a free role you want Kroos to have, because he does have the ability to really run-the-show. A diamond 4-4-2 formation would work well; with Kroos operating in an Attacking Midfield position. Personally, I would possibly look at a 4-2-3-1 formation, with two Defensive Midfielders, two Wingers, Kroos in the middle as an Attacking Midfielder, and then a big Target Man up front who can get in behind the opposition Defenders.

Transfer
Due to his somewhat overwhelming potential within the game, Kroos’ signature is rather difficult to secure, as I’m sure you can imagine. Bayern are extremely reluctant to part company with the youngster, but if you’re a team with a big transfer fund, they will more-than-likely accept an offer within the region of £20-£30 million. In terms of the Premiership, Kroos would probably sign for any of the ‘Big Four’, as well as Manchester City I would assume, if the money was right of course.

Overall
Kroos has the ability to pull all the creative strings in a team, and at just 19, has the world at his feet, so to speak. Given the right tactics with the right players around him to complement his attributes, he could quite easily grow into one of the finest players in world football, leaving followers of German football to dub him the ‘new Michael Ballack’. The current German captain leaves big shoes to fill, but it’s a good job Kroos has, metaphorically speaking, big, big feet.
Recommended Rating: 10/10