Felix Kroos: Toni Kroos' Brother Still Trying to Make It
Real Madrid's German central midfielder Toni Kroos, 25, is a FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League winner.
Meanwhile, his little brother, Felix Kroos, 24, a German defensive midfielder, is barely holding on to his place as a Werder Bremen starter.
Like Toni, Felix was once a promising teenage footballer.
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Unlike Toni, Felix is still trying to make the grade at top-flight level.
Living In Toni's Shadow
"Am I really the only one?" Toni said in 2014 after being told he was the first East German to win the FIFA World Cup, per Jens Mende at Deutsche Presse-Agentur. "I am not as much in touch with those times as my parents."
Toni's father, Roland, believed the former East Germany's gymnasiums promoted sporting excellence, per Ian Hawkey at The Telegraph.
By now Roland probably has realised the German reunification factored into the demise of East German football clubs in the Bundesliga, per Glen Moutrie at The Guardian.
This is why in 2006, Toni, at the time a 16-year-old wunderkind, succumbed to the allure of Bayern Munich, an institution of success and opulence—the antithesis of Hansa Rostock, the club he left.
Roland provided the foundation blocks for his sons.
"[My first coach was] my father firstly at home and then in Greifswald," Toni said in January, per DFB.de. "Felix and I played football and trained together with [dad] from an early age."
According to family friend Hartmut Schmidt, Toni grew up watching Werder Bremen because of a French No. 10.
"Felix liked Steffen Baumgart, a Hansa Rostock striker, but [Toni] was more partial to Johan Micoud," Schmidt said in 2014, per Marca. "Toni lacked brawn and was a little slower, but he learned to develop his talent. He was a strategist from a young age."
Realising he lacked the fast-twitch muscle fibers to outrun opposing players Alexander Esswein-style, Toni studied Micoud, who was Werder Bremen's answer to Zinedine Zidane.
You surmise the most important takeaway Toni learnt from watching Micoud was how the Frenchman found space, the way he controlled Werder Bremen's possessions and when to play the defence-splitting pass.
Then-Bayern Munich manager Ottmar Hitzfeld was in awe of Toni's footballing intelligence.
"Toni is a future international," Hitzfeld said in 2007, per Manfred Christoph at UEFA.com. "He always takes the right decision on the pitch and you don't have to tell him what to do."
Believe it or not, there was not a Tobias Schweinsteiger-Bastian Schweinsteiger gap in quality between the Kroos brothers as teenagers.
Felix was a highly rated German talent.
Hansa Rostock Nightmare
Having scored 13 goals in 13 games for the Hansa Rostock U17s, Felix was a top centre-forward prospect.
Felix was expected to not only elevate Hansa Rostock from the 2. Bundesliga to the Bundesliga, but to be a cash cow, like Oliver Neuville.
In Felix's debut 2. Bundesliga campaign, he went goalless in 733 minutes.
Kicker ranked him as the 26th-highest rated footballer at Hansa Rostock.
Granted, Felix improved his Kicker rating (on a scale of 1-6, the lower the better) from 4.60 (2008/09) to 3.75 (2009/10), he was in and out of the Matchday squad.
Werder Bremen offered Felix a lifeline.
"I had to do something new for my development," Felix said in 2010, per Werder.de. "My goal is to become a Bundesliga player. Being able to train with so many stars at Werder Bremen will push me forward."
Then-Werder Bremen manager Thomas Schaaf revealed Felix was a project.
"We will work together on ensuring Felix can develop successfully with us," Schaaf said in 2010, per Sky Sports. "In the mid-term, we have quite a bit of hope in him."
What Does Felix Do?
Going 0/29 in goals/games for Hansa Rostock, how was Felix going to survive in the Bundesliga as a centre-forward
He didn't.
Werder Bremen had a "bit of hope" in Felix, except as a No. 9.
- November 28, 2010, Werder Bremen 3-0 St Pauli: Right-winger.
- January 16, 2011, Werder Bremen 2-1 Hoffenheim: Left-central midfielder.
- April 13, 2013, Fortuna Dusseldorf 2-2 Werder Bremen: Defensive midfielder.
- October 26, 2013, Wolfsburg 3-0 Werder Bremen: Central midfielder.
- February 23, 2014, Eintracht Frankfurt 0-0 Werder Bremen: Centre-back.
Bleacher Report's German football correspondent Clark Whitney sardonically remarked that Felix would end his career as a goalkeeper.
Four years and seven months ago, Schaaf acknowledged Felix's defensive shortcomings.
"Felix certainly has some things to improve," Schaaf said in 2010, per Werder.de. "Such as moving backwards and playing without the ball."
Under Viktor Skrypnyk and Robin Dutt, Werder Bremen's last two managers, Felix's tackling inefficiency is still a talking point.
Werder Bremen have decided Felix is a defensive midfielder, but he is not a natural defender.
Hence why he only completes 53.8 percent of his tackles this season and 52.9 percent during the 2013-14 campaign.
Forced to play as a centre-back against Eintracht Frankfurt, Felix was isolated in a one-on-one situation against Sebastian Rode.
Rather than directly challenge for the ball, Felix obstructed Rode's path and was dismissed for getting a second yellow card.
In Bayern Munich's 6-0 win over Werder Bremen, Felix was given a 6.0 along with six other teammates, which is the worst rating you can receive from Kicker.
It is fraught with danger to continue burdening Felix with defensive responsibilities as his body has routinely broken down.
Felix probably wishes he could drink Felix Felicis considering his Sami Khedira-esque misfortune with injury:
August 28, 2010, per Werder.de: "Felix Kroos (medial collateral strain)."
May 19, 2011, per Werder.de: "The worst off is the 20-year-old Kroos as the midfielder suffered a foot ligament tear in the Werder U23s' final game of the season. Werder's young talent is currently bound to walk with crutches."
April 25, 2012, per Werder.de: "Werder midfielder Felix Kroos had successful spleen surgery over the weekend."
November 26, 2013, per Werder.de: "Werder midfielder Felix Kroos will miss the remainder of the 2013 calendar year with a torn knee ligament."
March 26, 2014, per Werder.de: "Subsequent examinations by Werder Bremen's medical department determined that [Felix] suffered a capsular injury in his left knee as well a bone compression."
A Poor Imitation
From a passing perspective, Felix lacks Toni's class, control and creativity.
It is a risk when Werder Bremen starts Felix in midfield because he gives away the ball 29 percent of the time he attempts a pass.
Currently, Felix is Werder Bremen's 14th-highest rated footballer, according to Kicker.
Last season, he was their ninth-highest rated footballer.
Neither a prolific ball-winner nor a passing outlet, it is befuddling that Werder Bremen extended Felix's contract to 2017.
Then again, Werder Bremen extended Davie Selke's contract to 2018 and then sold him to RB Leipzig six months later for €8/£5.8 million.
In terms of Bundesliga footballers 20 years or younger, Selke leads the league in scoring (six goals).
Werder Bremen should have played out another season, hoped Selke reached double-digits and then inflate his transfer stock.
Underrating Selke and overrating Felix, Werder Bremen's decision-making defies logic.
"I feel really good here and want to establish myself," Felix said, per Werder.de. "I am happy to remain a part of this great team."
Deep down, Felix probably knows he is fortunate to play in the Bundesliga.
Felix is like Kevin Grosskreutz in that you can see slow retrogression instead of steady progression.
The irony is Selke will probably play in the 2. Bundesliga next season if RB Leipzig, currently sixth in Germany's second division don't get promoted, while Felix may continue to struggle in the Bundesliga.
Veering towards Rani Khedira territory, Felix should consider stepping down to the 2. Bundesliga, a move which could kick-start a faltering career.
Felix's career path should have mirrored Dieter Hoeness, Michael Rummenigge or Thomas Allofs—a quality footballer in his own right, but outshone by an older brother.
"We spoke everyday during the [FIFA] World Cup on the phone right after the matches," Felix said in 2014, per Bundesliga.com. "I'm very proud for [Toni] to achieve so much, so young."
Now it's time for Felix to experience success by seeking a move to a lower level rather than eking out what has so far been an underwhelming career in the Bundesliga.
When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com.
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