Jose Mourinho was sad to see Toni Kroos play his final game for Real Madrid (Image: TNT SPORTS)
Jose Mourinho jokingly called for UEFA to step in and prevent Toni Kroos from retiring after Real Madrid won the Champions League final. Goals from Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior saw the Spanish giants taste European glory for an unprecedented 15th time at the expense of Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.
It also marked Kroos' final appearance in a Real Madrid shirt, with the German midfielder set to retire from football after this summer's Euros. He received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the closing stages of the match and looked emotional as the celebrations began after the final whistle.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Mourinho called on football's governing bodies to intervene and stop Kroos from hanging up his boots when he is clearly still at the peak of his powers.
The 34-year-old was lauded by his team-mates during the post-match celebrations (Image: GETTY)
The former Manchester United and Chelsea boss joked: "It should be forbidden. FIFA and UEFA, they have so many rules and decisions. Make a decision and stop the guy from retiring!"
Kroos was in the thick of the post-match celebrations, jumping into a sea of bodies in the stands as he revelled in Real Madrid's latest European triumph. It saw him join an exclusive club of players to have won six Champions League titles alongside team-mates Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric and Nacho.
Before the final, Kroos was asked in an interview with CBS Sports if he would consider changing his mind on retirement. He was quick to play down the prospect of going back on his word, though, replying: "No, it’s done. Once I take a decision, it’s done."
The 34-year-old made a total of 464 appearances for Real Madrid during his decade-long spell at the club, scoring 28 goals and chipping in with a further 98 assists. He will go down in history as one of their greatest ever midfielders, having enjoyed a particularly formidable partnership with Modric over the years.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti reserved special praise for Kroos ahead of kick-off at Wembley, saying: "His decision to go is the decision of a great, a decision of character. We are saying farewell to a footballing great who we have been lucky to have here.
"He is a great midfielder with huge quality and fantastic character, with little ego, who always played for the team. We have been lucky to have him for 10 years.
"Toni could close his career with a Champions League, and at an individual level he deserves it, but his career doesn’t need another Champions League. He has been a fantastic player for 10 years, he had made history with Real Madrid and in world football."
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