Luka Modrić
Luka Modrić (Croatian
pronunciation: [lûːka mǒːdritɕ]; born 9 September
1985) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish
club Real
Madrid and captains the Croatia national team. He plays mainly as
a central
midfielder,
but can also play as an attacking
midfielder or
as a defensive
midfielder,
usually deployed as a deep-lying
playmaker.
He is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, and the greatest
Croatian footballer of all-time.
Born in Zadar, Modrić's childhood
coincided with the Croatian War of Independence which displaced his
family. In 2002, he was signed by Dinamo Zagreb at age 16, after
showing promise with his hometown club NK Zadar's youth team. He
continued his development in Zagreb, before spells on loan to Zrinjski Mostar and Inter Zaprešić. He made his debut for Dinamo in 2005 and
won three consecutive league titles and domestic cups, being named the Prva HNL Player of the Year in 2007. In 2008,
he moved to Premier
League club Tottenham Hotspur for a club-record transfer fee of
£16.5 million, where he led Spurs to their first UEFA Champions League appearance in
almost 50 years, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2010–11 tournament.
In the summer of 2012, Modrić joined Real
Madrid for a £30 million transfer fee. There he became a key contributor
and helped the team win La Décima and was selected for the 2013–14 Champions League squad of the season. After Zinedine Zidane took over Madrid,
Modrić was critical to three consecutive Champions League titles from 2015–16 to 2017–18, each time being voted
into the squad of the season. He won the La Liga Award for "Best
Midfielder" in 2016 for the second time, and the UEFA Club Football Award for "Best
Midfielder" in 2017 and 2018. In 2015, he became the first Croatian player
to be included in the FIFA
FIFPro World XI, in which he was regularly included until 2019, as well
in the UEFA Team of the Year between 2016 and
2018. In 2018, Modrić became the first Croatian player to win the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, and by winning The Best FIFA Men's Player and Ballon d'Or awards, he became
the first player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the awards
in more than a decade. In 2019, was awarded the Golden Foot award for career
results and personality.
Modrić made his international debut for
Croatia against Argentina in March 2006, and
scored his first international goal in a friendly match against Italy. He has since anchored
Croatia's "second Golden Generation", participating in
every major tournament Croatia has qualified for, including the UEFA Euro 2008, 2012, and 2016, as well the 2006, 2014, and 2018 FIFA World Cup. At UEFA Euro 2008, he
was selected for the Team
of the Tournament, becoming only the second Croatian to ever achieve this
honour. Following group stage eliminations in his first two World Cups, Modrić
led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup Final, and he received
the Golden Ball award for Best
Player of the Tournament. Furthermore, he has been named the Croatian Footballer of the Year a record seven
times between 2007–2018.
Early life
Modrić was born in Zadar, Croatia where he began
his youth career at NK
Zadar.
Luka Modrić was born on 9 September 1985
and was raised in the hamlet of Modrići which is a part of Zaton
Obrovački, a village situated
on the southern slopes of the mountain Velebit, north of the city
of Zadar in SR Croatia, then a republic
within SFR Yugoslavia. He is the oldest
child of Stipe Modrić from Modrići and Radojka Dopuđ from Kruševo near Obrovac, both of whom initially
worked in knitwear factory. Modrić mostly spent
his early years in the house of his paternal grandfather after whom he was
named, and was shepherding
goats as a five-year-old. However, his
childhood coincided with the Croatian War of Independence—in 1991, when the war
escalated, his family were forced to flee the area. Modrić's
grandfather Luka was executed by Serb rebels who were part of
the police of SAO
Krajina in
December 1991 near his house in Modrići, and after the
family fled the house was burned to the ground. Modrić became a
refugee and lived with his family in the Hotel Kolovare for seven years; he
later moved to the Hotel Iž, both in Zadar. His father joined
the Croatian
Army as
an aeromechanic. In those years,
thousands of bombs fell on the city and football was a
way to escape the reality of war. He recalls it as a
tough time for his family and something which shaped him as a person. He also said he was
mostly unaware of the war because he befriended many other children and their
parents did not let it affect their childhood. In these difficult
circumstances, Modrić began playing football, mostly at the hotel parking lot. In 1992, he
simultaneously entered the primary school and a sporting academy, the latter
paid for with the little money the family had, sometimes helped by Modrić's
uncle. As a boy he was
inspired to play football by Zvonimir Boban and Francesco Totti.
Club career
Early
years
1990s–05:
NK Zadar and development through loans
Supported by his family, he participated in
representative camps and trained in NK Zadar. He was under
tutelage of coach Domagoj Bašić and the head of the youth academy, Tomislav
Bašić. Tomislav Bašić,
considered by Modrić as his "sporting father", said Modrić's
father made him wooden shin guards because they had little money. However, Modrić
later denied the story. Due to being
considered too young and light, he was not signed by Croatian powerhouse Hajduk Split, the most representative
football club in the region of Dalmatia. After displaying
some talent, including at youth tournament in Italy, Tomislav Bašić
arranged Modrić's move to Dinamo Zagreb when Modrić was a
16-year-old in late 2001. After a season with
Dinamo Zagreb's youth side, Modrić was loaned in 2003 to Zrinjski Mostar in the Bosnian Premier League. During this period,
he established his versatile style of play and became the Bosnian Premier
League Player of the Year at only the age of 18. Modrić later said,
"Someone who can play in the Bosnian Premier League can play
anywhere," referring to its physical nature. The following year,
he was loaned to Croatian side Inter Zaprešić. He spent one season there, helping the
team to achieve second position in the Croatian First Football League and a place in the
preliminary round of the UEFA Cup. He also won the Croatian Football Hope of the Year award in 2004. He returned to
Dinamo Zagreb in 2005.
Dinamo
Zagreb
2005–08:
Breakthrough in Croatia
In the 2005–06 season, Modrić signed a
ten-year contract (his first long-term contract) with Dinamo Zagreb. With the contract's
earnings, he bought a flat in Zadar for his family. He secured a place
in Dinamo's first team, contributing 7 goals in 31 matches to help win the
league. In the 2006–07 season, Dinamo again won the
league, with Modrić making a similar contribution. He was the main
provider for striker Eduardo, which helped Modrić
win the Prva HNL Player of the Year award. The following
season, Modrić as a team captain, led Dinamo's
attempt to qualify for the 2007–08 UEFA Cup. In the final play-off
stage, Modrić converted a penalty in the second and away fixture against Ajax; the match finished 1–1
after regular time. Dinamo won the match and play-off with a score of 3–2
after extra time with two goals from teammate Mario
Mandžukić. However, Dinamo
Zagreb failed to advance beyond the group stage. In his last home match with
the club at Maksimir Stadium, Modrić was given a
standing ovation and fans held up supportive banners. He finished his
four-year tenure at Dinamo with a tally of over 31 goals and 29 assists in four
league seasons, contributing most
notably in the 2007–08 season when Dinamo won the
second Croatian Cup and became
champions by a 28-point margin. Modrić was courted
by Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea, but opted to wait
leaving the club.
Tottenham
Hotspur
2008–10:
Struggle and success in England
Modrić (far left, No.
14), preparing for a match kick-off for Tottenham against Arsenal in November 2010.
Modrić agreed to transfer terms with Tottenham Hotspur on 26 April 2008.
He was the first of many summer signings for manager Juande Ramos, and was also the Premier League's first summer transfer. Club chairman Daniel Levy promptly flew
to Zagreb when Manchester City and Newcastle United became interested, and after signing a
six-year contract, Tottenham confirmed the transfer fee paid was
£16.5 million, equalling the club's record fee set by Darren Bent's move in 2007. He got number 14 jersey, later recalling that he
wore it in honour of Johan Cruyff. Modrić made his
competitive Premier League debut on 16 August in a 2–1 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in Spurs' first
match of the 2008–09 season.
Modrić had a slow start at Tottenham. He
suffered from a knee injury early in his tenure and was labelled as a
light-weight for the Premier League by sections of the media, as well as Arsenal
manager Arsène
Wenger. Reflecting on that,
Modrić said that such "critics push you forward to show people they are
wrong. Maybe I look lightweight but I am a really strong person mentally and
physically, and I never had any problems with my size". This coincided with
his poor form, leading to concerns both for himself and Croatia national team
head coach Slaven
Bilić. Modrić spent his
early days at a position of number 10, before being shifted to the left wing to
play alongside Wilson Palacios. Spurs
teammate Tom
Huddlestone later
said, "[H]is versatility was probably a blessing and a curse, he was that
good that he had to play out of position for a bit."
After the appointment of manager Harry Redknapp, Modrić was given a more
familiar role as a central or left-sided midfielder, allowing him to have more
influence on the team and use his footballing talent more productively, for
example in a 4–4 draw with arch-rivals Arsenal on 29 October. Redknapp recognised
Modrić's value to his side and planned to shape his new team around the
Croatian playmaker. He scored his first
competitive goal at Tottenham in a 2–2 draw against Spartak Moscow during the UEFA Cup group stages on 18
December 2008. He scored his first
Premier League goals against Newcastle United in an away defeat
on 21 December, a home win in the third
round of
the FA Cup against Wigan Athletic on 2 January 2009, and in an away
defeat against Manchester United on 25 April 2009. Using Modrić in his
former position from his Dinamo days made him more effective with performances
against Stoke
City, Hull City, and most notably on
21 March when he scored the only goal in a win against Chelsea.
Before the 2009–10 season, Harry Redknapp said of
Modrić, "[He's] a hell of a player and a manager's dream, so I am told. He
trains like a demon and never complains, will work with and without the ball on
the field and can beat a defender with a trick or with a pass. He could get
into any team in the top four". On 29 August 2009,
during Tottenham's 2–1 win over Birmingham City, Modrić was taken off injured with a
suspected calf injury. The following day,
it was confirmed Modrić had sustained a fracture to his right fibula and was expected to
be out for six weeks. He returned on 28
December in the London derby against West Ham United, which Spurs won 2–0 with an 11th-minute
goal scored by Modrić using the leg he broke. He again scored in
a home win against Everton on 28 February
2010, and in an away
defeat against Burnley on 9 May. On 30 May 2010,
Modrić signed a new six-year contract that ran until 2016. Upon signing, he
said, "Tottenham Hotspur gave me my chance in the Premier League and I
want to go on to achieve great success here with them. Yes, there have been
enquiries from other big clubs, but I have no interest in going anywhere. Last
season's top-four finish was an indication of where we are as a Club and I feel
I can continue to improve and go on to achieve everything I want to at
Spurs."
2010–12:
Outgrowing Tottenham Hotspur
Modrić playing against
Arsenal in November 2010.
On 11 September 2010, Modrić scored his
first goal of the 2010–11 season in a 1–1 away draw
at West Bromwich Albion. On 28 November, in
a home match against Liverpool, Modrić scored one goal
that was later credited as an own goal by Martin Škrtel. After a draw against
Manchester United at White Hart Lane in January 2011,
Redknapp praised Modrić, saying, "He was unbelievable. Magnificent. He's
an amazing footballer, the little man takes the ball in the tightest areas with
people around him, wriggling out of situations. He could play in any team in
the world." Modrić also scored
in Tottenham's 3–2 victory over Stoke City on 9 April, and converted a
penalty at Anfield on 15 May in a 2–0
victory over Liverpool. Modrić helped
Tottenham reach their first involvement in the UEFA Champions League. In the first match,
against Inter
Milan at
the San
Siro on
20 October, he exited the match early due to injury; Spurs lost 4–3, despite
the tremendous efforts of Gareth Bale. On the return match
at home, on 2 November, Modrić was given too much space to move and dictate the
tempo of the match. He created and assisted for the first goal by Rafael van der Vaart in a 3–1 victory. In the next match,
against Werder Bremen, Modrić scored the second goal. After a scoreless
draw against Milan, Spurs were
eliminated from the competition in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid.
Modrić played 32 Premier League matches in
the 2010–11 season, scoring three goals,
recording two assists and making the highest average number of passes per match
for Spurs with 62.5 and an accuracy rate of 87.4%. At the end of the
season, Modrić was voted the Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Player of the Year. Then-Manchester United
manager Sir
Alex Ferguson said
he would have chosen Modrić as his Player of the Year for that season.
"I spent four great years there with a lot of
emotions, with a lot of love from the club and the fans. I enjoyed every moment
with Tottenham. But in one moment you feel you need to take a step forward, to
go to a higher level. I think it was the right time for me to go, but I will
always be thankful to Tottenham for everything they did for me. I became a
better player there and they pushed me to this level where I am at the
moment."
—Luka Modrić reflecting
on negotiations with Chelsea and move to Real Madrid in February 2014.
In mid-2011, Modrić was heavily pursued by
Tottenham's London rivals Chelsea, who made a first bid of £22 million,
which they increased to £27 million, both of which were rejected by Spurs
chairman Daniel Levy. After the failed
bids, Modrić announced he would welcome a move across London and that he had a
"gentleman's agreement" with Levy the club would entertain offers
from a "big club". Speculation continued
throughout the summer transfer window, culminating in Modrić refusing to play
in Tottenham's opening match of the 2011–12 season against Manchester United,
which ended in a 3–0 loss. Modrić said his
"head was not in the right place" as he continued to force a move to
Chelsea. On the final day of
the transfer window, Chelsea made an offer of £40 million that was again
rejected.
After failing to secure a transfer, Spurs
manager Harry Redknapp told Modrić to focus on his playing and named him as a
starter. On 18 September, he
scored his first goal of the season for Tottenham with a shot from 25 yd
(23 m) in a 4–0 home win against Liverpool. On 14 January 2012,
Modrić scored the only goal in a home draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers. On 31 January in a
3–1 win against Wigan Athletic, he assisted for the first goal with a
crossfield pass and scored the second from 20 yd (18 m). For the third time
that season, he was included in "Team of the Week". Modrić scored his
last goal for Tottenham on 2 May in a 1–4 away win against Bolton Wanderers with a powerful
volley from 25 yd (23 m).
Real
Madrid
2012–13:
Becoming a starting eleven player in Real Madrid
Modrić playing
against Sevilla in February 2013.
On 27 August 2012, Real Madrid announced
they had agreed on a deal with Tottenham for an approximate £30 million
transfer fee. Modrić signed a
five-year contract with the Spanish club. Two days later, he
made his Real Madrid debut against Barcelona in the second leg final of
the 2012 Supercopa de España at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, replacing Mesut Özil in the 83rd minute.
Madrid won the match, giving Modrić his first trophy with the club 36 hours
after his signing was announced. Despite his
positive debut, Modrić at first struggled to settle into the team under
manager José
Mourinho because
of his lack of pre-season training, which he missed as a result of his ongoing
transfer negotiations. The presence of
veteran midfielder Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira in defensive
midfield, and Özil in offensive midfield, usually kept Modrić out of the
starting line-up, limiting him to substitute appearances. He mostly played
out-of-position for his first few months at the club. He played his first UEFA Champions League match for Real
Madrid in the group stage against Manchester Cit on 18 September, which Madrid won
3–2. On 3 November, Modrić scored his first goal for Real Madrid in the last
minute of their 4–0 victory over Real Zaragoza in La
Liga. On 17 November,
Modrić assisted a Karim Benzema goal, which was
eventually ruled an own goal by Jon Aurtenetxe, with a 50 m
(55 yd) cross-field pass. It was the first goal in a 5–1 victory
over Athletic
Bilbao. His most notable
match that year was on 4 December, when he assisted for the first two goals
of Cristiano Ronaldo and José
Callejón with
cross-field passes in a 4–1 victory over Ajax in the group stage of the
Champions League. At the end of the
year he was voted as the worst signing of the season by Spanish newspaper Marca.
Modrić started in Real Madrid's home match
against rivals Barcelona on 2 March 2013. From a corner kick, he assisted Sergio Ramos to score the
winning goal in the 82nd minute, giving Real a victory in El Clásico. On 5 March, Modrić came
on as a second-half substitute during the decisive Champions League knockout
leg against ten-man Manchester United at Old Trafford. With Madrid behind by a
goal, Modrić equalised with a long-range shot from 25 yd (23 m) out
and played a key role in the rest of the match, which Real Madrid won 2–1,
advancing them to the quarter-finals 3–2 on aggregate. This match is often
seen as the turning point in Modrić's career in Real Madrid. On 16 March, he
replicated this performance against Mallorca, giving Real Madrid the
lead with a long-range volley from 30 yd (27 m); Real Madrid won the
match 5–2. Modrić played as a
starter in both Champions League semi-final matches against Borussia Dortmund. In the first leg on 24
April, he played in the attacking midfield position where he did not influence
the match and the team lost 4–1. On 30 April, in the second leg 2–0 victory,
Modrić played as the deep-lying playmaker, making passes to the attackers and creating
several chances; he was among the best-rated players that night. From March 2013,
Modrić's form and influence in the midfield continued to improve,
distinguishing himself as a player with most passes completed in his team. On 8
May, he assisted from the corner for the first goal and scored the fourth goal
in a 6–2 victory over Málaga.
2013–15:
Best midfielder in Spain and La Décima
"He's the head of midfield in a complicated
environment. Every day in Madrid pressure is coming at you from all sides.
Modrić not only withstands the pressure but has grown among it to be Madrid's
best player, with [Cristiano] Ronaldo."
—Predrag Mijatović praises Modrić's
rising performance and significance for the team in January 2014.
With the arrival of new manager Carlo Ancelotti, Modrić became one of the
most frequent starters in the team, being partnered in midfield with Xabi
Alonso to provide a balance of defence and attack. He was consistently
the team's most efficient passer, averaging 90% accuracy in La
Liga,
and also having the most ball recoveries among the squad. He scored his first
goal of the 2013–14 season in the last Champions League group match
against Copenhagen, making it his fifth
goal for the club, all five of which were scored from the outside the penalty
area. Modrić scored his
first goal of the Liga season in a 3–0 away win against Getafe, his sixth goal outside
the penalty area. Modrić was on the
pitch when Real Madrid won the 2013–14 Copa del Rey after defeating
Barcelona 2–1 in the final.
In the first leg of the Champions League
quarter-finals, Modrić intercepted the ball and assisted Cristiano Ronaldo for
the third goal in Real Madrid's 3–0 home victory against Borussia Dortmund. The
goal was ultimately decisive because Real went on to lose 2–0 in the second
leg, but progressed with a marginal aggregate score of 3–2. In his 100th
appearance for the club, Modrić assisted for
the first goal in the second leg 4–0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions
League semi-final, helping Real Madrid reach the final for the first time in 12
years. He was included in
UEFA's Team of the Week for both legs of the semi-final. On 24 May in
the final, Modrić again assisted
from a corner for teammate Sergio Ramos, who scored a 93rd-minute equaliser
against local
rivals Atlético
Madrid.
Real won 4–1 in extra time, marking the club's tenth Champions League title,
locally known as la Décima ("the tenth"). He was included in
the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season and received
the LFP
award for
the "Best Midfielder" of the Spanish first league of that season.
In August 2014, Modrić signed a new contract
to stay at Real Madrid until 2018. With the departure
of Alonso he was partnered with newly arrived Toni Kroos. Real Madrid began
the 2014–15 season by winning
the UEFA Super Cup over Sevilla Modrić assisted
twice for Bale, first against Real Sociedad in La Liga, and second
against Basel in the Champions League. In the 2–0 away win
against Villarreal, Modrić scored his
seventh goal from outside of the box.
In late November, Modrić sustained a thigh
injury during an international match against Italy, because of which he did
not play for three months. He returned in
early March 2015, starting in seven matches and proving his form. On 21 April, in the
3–1 home win against Málaga, he strained ligaments in his right knee, because
of which he did not play until May. With his injury,
Real Madrid's 22-match winning run in the season came to an end. His absence
and the lack of a quality substitute were seen as the main cause of Real
Madrid's failure to win matches in La Liga and the Champions League. Ancelotti said,
"Modrić has missed most of the year and this has hurt us". Modrić's influence
was recognised and he was selected by professional players in the FIFA
FIFPro World XI.
2015–17:
Among best world players and La Undécima and Duodécima
Modrić playing
against Shakhtar Donetsk during their group stage match in the UEFA
Champions League in November 2015.
For the 2015–16 season, Carlo Ancelotti was
replaced by Rafael Benítez under whom Modrić continued
to be a key midfield player. Modrić began the
season assisting in September, November and December, and scoring in the 3–4
away win against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League group
stage. He sustained a
muscular groin injury during an international match in October, initially
suggesting an absence of two-to-three weeks. However, by 20
October, he had recovered in time for the match against Paris Saint-Germain.
With the arrival of new manager Zinedine Zidane in January 2016, the relationship
between them was noted in the media, with Modrić described as "master of
the game", and the crucial
"connector" of the defence and attack. It was seen in the
first three matches, wins against Deportivo de La Coruña and Sporting de Gijón and a draw
against Real
Betis,
in which Modrić was praised for creating chances, his positioning and overall
performance and influence. On 7 February,
Modrić scored a winning goal from outside the box in a 1–2 away win
against Granada. Modrić was a
regular in the starting line-up when the team won the 2015–16 Champions League in the final against Atlético
Madrid. He was included in
both Champions League, and La Liga's team
of the season. For the second
time, he also received the LFP award for the "Best
Midfielder" of the Spanish first league. He was for the
second time included in the FIFA
FIFPro World XI.
On 18 October 2016, Modrić signed a new
contract with Real Madrid, keeping him at the club until 2020. Due to injury of a
left knee sustained in mid-September, he missed eight matches, returning early
November. On 18 December, he
won the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid,
receiving the Silver Ball for his
performances during the tournament. In January 2017,
for the first time was included in the UEFA Team of the Year (2016). On 12 March 2017,
in a 2–1 win over Real Betis, Modrić played his 200th match for Real Madrid.
Modrić was a regular starter when Real
Madrid won the 2016–17
La Liga, as well as
the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League, where he provided the
assist for Cristiano Ronaldo's second goal in the final against Juventus. Modrić was included
in Champions League team of the season and became the
first Croatian to win the Champions League three times. He also received
the UEFA Club Football award for Best Midfielder
of the Champions League season. In the competition
for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award, he came fourth, while for 2017 Ballon d'Or, fifth. For the third time,
he was also included in the FIFA
FIFPro World XI.
2017–18:
Player of the year and third consecutive Champions League title
Modrić (left) with Gareth Bale during the 2018 Champions League Final.
With the departure of James
Rodríguez to
Bayern Munich, Modrić inherited the team's coveted number 10 jersey for the new 2017–18 season, replacing his previous
number 19 jersey. In December, he won
the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup with Real Madrid
and received the Golden Ball award as the best
player of the competition for his performance. His first goal of
the season came in a 7–1 win over Deportivo de La Coruña on 21 January 2018. In the same month
was for the second time included in the UEFA Team of the Year (2017). Modrić was a
regular starter when Real Madrid won the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League, starting in the final victory against Liverpool
which saw Madrid win their third consecutive title. For his
performances throughout the campaign, Modrić was included in Champions League
team of the season for the third consecutive time. He later received
the UEFA Club Football Award for Best Midfielder
of the Champions League season for the second consecutive time. In July 2018, it
was announced Modrić's Real Madrid jersey was the most requested jersey of the
club after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus.
Due to his club, and national team performance
at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. where also received
the Golden Ball, in August and
September Modrić won the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award and The Best FIFA Men's Player Award, while in December,
he added the Ballon d'Or to his personal
tally, making the first
time since 2007 that the award were
not won by Lionel
Messi or
Cristiano Ronaldo, which was seen in the media as an end to their decade-long
triumphant rivalry. Furthermore,
besides becoming the first Croatian player to win these awards, Modrić was the
first player to win both the World Cup Golden Ball and the UEFA Men's Player of
the Year Award in the same year since Ronaldo in 1998, and the World Cup
Golden Ball and the Best FIFA Men's Player of the Year Award after Romário in 1994. Additionally, he is
the first player to win the awards from the former Yugoslavia
territory,
the first footballer from Eastern Europe to win a Ballon d'Or after Andriy Shevchenko in 2004, and the tenth
player from Real Madrid to capture the trophy. He was also
included in the FIFA
FIFPro World XI for the fourth time, and won the IFFHS World's Best
Playmaker award.
After receiving the FIFA Men's Player of
the Year Award, Modrić stated it "shows that we all can become the best
with hard work, dedication, and belief, all dreams can come true". Modrić dedicated
the Ballon d'Or to "all the players who probably deserved to win it and
didn't" in the past decade, including Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and Wesley Sneijder among others.
2018–20:
Seventh season in Spain and Golden Foot
The arrival of new manager Julen Lopetegui in August 2018 saw
Modrić given a steady return to the first team as a substitute due to his lack
of pre-season training after the 2018 World Cup. This included a
substitute appearance in his team's 2–4 loss after extra time against Atlético
Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup. His first start of
the season came on 1 September in a 4–1 home win against Leganés, in which he assisted
his side's third goal, scored by Karim Benzema. His 100th
appearance in the UEFA club competition came on 19 September in a 3–0 home win
against Roma, in which made an
assist for the second goal, scored by Gareth Bale. On 22 December,
Modrić won his fourth FIFA Club World Cup, scoring the first goal
and assisting for the third in the final against Al Ain FC. On 13 and 19
January 2019, Modrić for the first time scored in two consecutive league games
for Real Madrid, in a 1–2 away win against Real Betis and 2–0 home win against
Sevilla. In the same month
was included in the UEFA Team of the Year (2018) for the
third time in his career. Although having an
underwhelming season, for the fifth
consecutive time he was included in the FIFA
FIFPro World XI.
On 27 August 2019 was the seventh
anniversary of Modrić's signing with the club. Although raising
doubts due to age of 34 and decision to continue playing with the national team
which makes him prone to injuries, Modrić stated that
wants to "recapture his best form this season". On 1 September and
9 November made his first assists in a 2–2 away draw against Villarreal and in
a 0–4 away victory against Eibar, while first goal on
5 October in a 4–2 home victory against Granada. On 12 November was
awarded with a Golden
Foot award. On 23 November he
made two assists and scored a goal in a 3–1 home victory against Real Sociedad. On 8 January 2020,
Modrić scored his fifth goal of the season and 100th career goal in a 3–1
victory against Valencia in the semi-finals
of 2019–20 Supercopa de España. On 12 January he
successfully converted a penalty in a shootout as Real Madrid beat
Atlético Madrid 4–1 on penalties in the final.
International career
Modrić at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He is said to
anchor Croatia's second Golden Generation.
Modrić began his international career at
youth level, playing for the Croatian under-15, under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 teams. He debuted in March
2001 for the under-15 team coached by Martin Novoselac, but nevertheless his
talent and psychological maturity, he did not become a regular starter and
leading player until physically strengthened and debuted for under-18.
Novoselac considers him as a model for all young players because is a result of
a gradual and continuous work and effort, as well as talent. Modrić made his
full international debut for Croatia on 1 March 2006 in
a friendly match against Argentina in Basel, which Croatia won 3–2.
2006–08:
2006 World Cup and Euro 2008
Modrić made two appearances at the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals as a
substitute in the group fixtures against Japan, and Australia. With the
appointment of new manager Slaven Bilić, Modrić earned greater
recognition at international level; he scored his first goal in Croatia's 2–0
friendly win over Italy on 16 August 2006
in Livorno.
Modrić's performances ensured a regular
place in the international side and he gave a successful showing in
Croatia's UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, which included home and
away victories against England. As a young midfielder,
much was expected of Modrić; he was often dubbed "the Croatian Cruyff". Modrić scored
Croatia's first goal of Euro 2008, converting a penalty in
the fourth minute of their 1–0 victory against hosts Austria on 8 June 2008. It was the fastest
penalty ever awarded and scored in European Championship history. He continued to
impress at the tournament and was named UEFA Man of the Match in Croatia's next
match when they defeated one of the pre-tournament favourites and eventual
finalists Germany. In the
quarter-final against Turkey, Modrić took advantage
of a mistake by veteran Turkish goalkeeper Rüştü
Reçber,
and crossed to teammate Ivan Klasnić for the first goal
of the match with one minute of extra time remaining, but Semih
Şentürk almost
immediately equalised for Turkey. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Modrić's kick was
off-target and he failed to score the first penalty and Turkey won the shootout
3–1. At the end of the
competition, Modrić was included in the UEFA Team of the Tournament, becoming
only the second Croatian to achieve this honour after Davor Šuker.[
2008–16:
Subsequent struggles
In the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Modrić scored three
goals, against Kazakhstan, Andorra, and Ukraine; matching Ivica Olić, Ivan Rakitić and Eduardo. The
team failed to qualify finishing one point behind second-placed Ukraine. After
appearing in all of their UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying matches and scoring
a goal against Israel, Modrić started in
all three of Croatia group stage matches against
the Republic of Ireland, Italy and Spain, but the team failed to
progress. His most notable performance was against Spain. The most memorable
moment of the match came when Modrić picked the ball on the halfway line
skipping Spain's midfield trio, rushing down on the right to reach the penalty
area where he evaded a defender and crossed from 18 yd (16 m) to Ivan
Rakitić, but Iker
Casillas saved
this attempt. Because Croatia did
not advance from the group stage, Modrić was not included in the Team of the
Tournament, although The Daily Telegraph included him in the
best 11 until the semi-finals, and his play was
well received by critics.
Modrić playing
against Neymar of Brazil at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
After the playoffs, Modrić with the
Croatian team qualified for the 2014 World Cup. They entered Group A with hosts Brazil, Mexico and Cameroon. Croatia played the
opening match against Brazil, which they lost 3–1, and Modrić
sustained a minor foot injury. In the second
match, Croatia won 4–0 against Cameroon, but did not
progress to the knockout stage after losing 3–1 to Mexico, despite the great
expectations from the Croatian press and public.
In the Euro 2016 qualifying rounds, Modrić
scored his first goals for Croatia in three years, the first against Malta on his 29th
birthday with a long-range shot, then a penalty
against Azerbaijan. On 3 March 2015,
Modrić captained Croatia for the first time, in an away draw against
Azerbaijan. In the tournament proper, Modrić
scored the match-winning goal in Croatia's opening group stage match against
Turkey, a volley from 25 metres (28 yards). In so doing, he
became the first Croatian to score at the finals of two separate European
Championships, having previously scored against Austria in 2008. He was named Man of
the Match. Modrić was forced
to miss the crucial fixture against Spain on 21 June because of a minor muscle
injury. However, Croatia
won and topped the group, but lost to Portugal 0–1 in extra-time
in the round of 16.
2016–2018:
Golden Ball of 2018 World Cup
Modrić with Croatia
during the World Cup.
For Croatia's 2018 World Cup qualifying
campaign,
Modrić became the new team captain. He scored a penalty
against Greece in the second qualifying round, enabling his team to
qualify for the World Cup. Croatia were placed in Group D alongside
Argentina, Iceland and Nigeria. During the tournament,
Modrić—along with Ivan Rakitić and Mario Mandžukić—were referred to as Croatia's second "Golden
Generation". In Croatia's
opening win against Nigeria, Modrić once again successfully executed a penalty
kick and was named Man of the Match. He also scored in
Croatia's subsequent 3–0 win over Argentina with a long-range shot from 25
yards (23 metres), also being named
Man of the Match. After also
featuring in the final group stage match, against Iceland, his performances in
the first round of the tournament saw him ranked by FourFourTwo, The Daily
Telegraph and ESPN as the best player
of the group stage.
In the round of 16 against Denmark on 1 July, with the
score tied at 1–1, Modrić created a goalscoring opportunity for Ante Rebić in the second half
of extra-time, who was brought down in the penalty area; Modrić proceeded to
take the penalty, but his strike was saved by Kasper Schmeichel. However, Modrić managed
to score his spot-kick during the ensuing penalty shoot-out and Croatia
advanced to the next round following a 3–2 victory on penalties. In the quarter-finals against hosts Russia on 7 July, Modrić
provided an assist in extra-time for Domagoj Vida from a corner kick,
and once again scored in the victorious penalty shoot-out following a 2–2 draw;
he was named Man of the Match for the third time in the tournament. In the semi-final
against England on 11 July, Croatia advanced to the World Cup final for the first time
in their history following a 2–1 victory in extra time. It was reported two
days before the final match that Modrić ran the most miles out of any player
and was third by created chances, as well had most dribbles per match and
completed passes in the opponent's half in his team. Although Croatia
was beaten 4–2 by France in the final on 15 July, Modrić was awarded
the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, and was included in
the team of the tournament. After the squad's
huge welcome in Zagreb, Modrić and his
teammates were welcomed by tens of thousands of people in his hometown of
Zadar.
2018–present:
Post-World Cup period
Modrić took part in all four matches in
the inaugural edition of UEFA Nations League as Croatia finished
at the bottom of the group following
historical 6–0 away defeat to Spain in September and another one to England at
the Wembley
Stadium in
November.
In the Euro 2020 qualifying rounds of Group E, Modrić scored two
goals; a penalty in away 1–1 draw against Azerbaijan and a solo-effort in home
3–0 win against Hungary as Croatia topped
the group and qualified for the tournament.
Player profile
Style
of play
"Not only is he a very hard worker, he has a good
brain and he provided some calmness and composure to the midfield. His passing was neat
and his contribution was outstanding. He was not only winning the ball, he was
passing well. We thought that he was very influential. He did not just work
hard, he made the other people play well around him".
A diminutive midfielder, Modrić is
described as a quick and creative playmaker, with great vision, who
is able to change the course of the game with incredibly deft passes and solo,
long-range efforts. He plays with both
feet in combination with his swift offensive positioning, off the ball. He passes the ball
accurately across long and short distances (passing range of perfection), even
with the outside of his boot. His ball control, first touch, positional play, ability to retain
possession and set the tempo
of the game makes him a mesmerising player to watch. A former attacking
midfielder, he is also noted
for his dribbling skills and is considered a
master of the "pre-assist". He is referred to
as the Midfield Maestro ("Midfield
Master") for his mastery of
footballing fundamentals, tactical strategy, and precision in execution. His tactical vision
and strategic planning has had him compared to a conductor of an orchestra, a "Puppet Master", and a
"Midfield Magician". After moving to
Real Madrid he was nicknamed by the Spanish media as El Pájaro ("the
bird"). In the dressing
room he is affectionately called "Lukita".
Position
Modrić's complex game has brought him
consistent success in the clubs for which he has played. Initially a trequartista or attacking
midfielder at Dinamo Zagreb and in his early career at Tottenham, in the
2010–11 season he flourished in a central midfield role as a deep-lying
playmaker (regista) who conducts the attack and creates chances for teammates. Afterwards, Modrić
acknowledged the role that Harry Redknapp played in shaping
of deep-lying his style, saying that dropping back enabled him "to read
the game better" and show his full "creativity". Although a central
midfielder,
Modrić is also a hard-working player who has been seen to adopt a defensive
midfield role
in addition to playmaking, tracking back to win the ball from the opposition
and prepare for a counter-attack, making him one of the most versatile players
in the world, capable of playing in several midfield positions. According to Jonathan Wilson, in a 4–2–3–1 system
Modrić is a third type of a holding midfielder, being "neither
entirely destructive or creative", but a "carrier" who is
"capable of making late runs or carrying the ball at his feet", but
in his case "with a hint of regista".
The switch to a more deep-lying position
reduced his number of assists and goals, as well as his shot per game count
(1.2), although his game was no longer based on being a goal threat; despite
this, he had the second-highest count of key passes per game (2.06) in the
team, as well as a very high pass accuracy rate (87%), with the highest passes
per game count (62.5) in the team, the most long balls per game (5.6), the most
successful dribbles (2.2), interceptions (2.5), and the highest tackle (1.9)
count per game among others, high statistics which placed him amongst the top
midfielders of the Premier League. By the 2011–12
season statistically he was among the top-rated central and all-round
midfielders across the top five leagues, alongside players like Xabi Alonso, Andrea Pirlo, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Xavi.
Upon Modrić's arrival to Real Madrid, his
midfield position was described as numbers six (defensive),
eight (central) or ten (attacking), depending on the tactics, and his role was
described as the second deep-lying
pivot alongside
Xabi Alonso in the 2012–13 season, a classic deep-lying playmaker whose
creativity was needed to dictate his team's play and unlock the opposing
defence. In the first half
of the 2013–14 season, during which he formed an effective central midfield
partnership with Alonso and Ángel
Di María,
Modrić made more tackles (56) than any other Real Madrid player in La Liga with
an average number of 2.86 tackles per match, as well as making the most
completed passes (878) in the opposition half of the pitch among Real Madrid
players, with the highest passing accuracy in La Liga (90%) (also the highest
of any midfielder in Europe's top five leagues who have made five or more
assists during the season). In the 2014–15
season, with the arrival of Toni Kroos, Real Madrid no longer had
an effective and natural ball-winner alongside their playmakers in midfield,
while the team possessed many attackers. Therefore, in addition to producing
the highest count of passes (60.7–64.7) and key passes per match (0.8–1.2)
within the team, both Modrić and Kroos had more defensive responsibility to set
the rhythm of the team's gameplay in midfield and orchestrate counterattacks. Modrić's average
passing accuracy during the season was between 91.6–92%, while his highest
completion rate in a single match occurred in October against Barcelona when he
completed all 42 attempted passes. For all of 2014,
Modrić's dribble attempts (75) at a success rate of 76% were second in Europe's
top five leagues.
Reception
Considered the most versatile
and critical member of the national team, Modrić's technical ability has been
heralded by both players and coaches.
Modrić is widely regarded as one of most
well-rounded and effective midfielders in the world. According to Jonathan Wilson, what sets apart Modrić
from old-school playmakers (number ten) like Juan Román Riquelme is the universality
due to increased defensive responsibility, a quality which was insisted
by Valeriy Lobanovskyi and Arrigo Sacchi that should make a
modern footballer.
Modrić's skill in the game was recognised
early by Dragan Stojković (Piksi), who
stated, "I saw a small blond boy who played exactly like I would. Ideas he
was showing then on the terrain were fascinating". Piksi considered
him, along with Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, as the most intelligent
player. Johan Cruyff said Modrić's
quality and influence on the game depend on the freedom he gets. Paul Scholes, who played several
times against Modrić, said in an interview with the Manchester Evening News in 2011, "Of
the three (Samir
Nasri and Wesley Sneijder), Modrić, has been the
one I have been most impressed with, [and] whenever we played Tottenham, he was
the one who stood out". In 2014, Zinedine
Zidane included Modrić in his best XI currently playing the game, while in January
2016 in private meeting with Modrić he told him that he saw him as a player who
could win Ballon d'Or. In 2018, Gennaro Gattuso stated that he
would have loved to have played with Modrić, calling him "an incredible
player, really strong mentally and a pure footballer". In 2018, Andriy Shevchenko has stated that he
considers Modrić to be one of the greatest midfielders to ever play. In 2018, Robert Prosinečki, with whom Ivan Rakitić agreed, considered
Modrić as the best Croatian player in the history. Davor Šuker also considered him
as the greatest Croatian footballer of all time. Predrag Mijatović considered him as
the best footballer in the history of the region of Balkans.
José Mourinho said he wanted
Modrić in Real Madrid because of his influence on the game, tactical level and
because he has "that artistic sense". In 2012, Carlo Ancelotti praised Modrić's
technique and versatility as a midfield player, stating, "Modrić is an
outstanding player and in my opinion one of the best midfielders in the world
right now, because he can play in more than one position". Alex Ferguson regarded him highly
as a player while he played in the Premier League, saying it is fair to compare
him to Paul Scholes because both are intelligent footballers with good passing
consistencies, control of the game, fairplay, and wanted to sign
him. Slaven Bilić said Modrić
"is a player who makes others better, they all benefit from him being in
the team. He's not selfish, he's playing for the team ... he's a
complete player; good in defence, good in offence—it looks like he was born
with the ball at his feet". Others managers who
have praised Modrić's game include Pep Guardiola, and Sven-Göran Eriksson.
Personal life
Modrić married Vanja Bosnić in May 2010 in
the Croatian capital Zagreb in a private
ceremony after four years of dating, and a year later in
church. Their son, Ivano,
was born on 6 June 2010. Their daughter,
Ema, was born on 25 April 2013. Their second
daughter, Sofia, was born on 2 October 2017. Modrić generally
maintains a low profile outside of football. In addition to his
native Croatian, Modrić also speaks English, and Spanish, and is Roman Catholic.
Legal
issues
In March 2018, in an embezzlement and tax evasion trial against the
former Dinamo Zagreb executive, Zdravko Mamić, Modrić was called as a
witness. Throughout the
mid-late 2000s, Modrić signed multiple contracts with Mamić to play at Dinamo
Zagreb. Modrić annexed most of his
Tottenham transfer fee to Mamić because he was the broker of the move and gave
Modrić financial backing early on in his career. Despite stating in
2017 that he signed the annexe clause of the contract ten years earlier, in his
testimony he stated that he signed it in 2004, the year of his first contract.
Modrić was charged with perjury for stating that he
annexed his fee at an earlier date than he allegedly had. Facing the judge,
he said, "I came here to state my defence and tell the truth, like every
time so far. My conscience is clear". The Croatian Football Federation stood behind
Modrić, but a part of the
Croatian public, frustrated with the corruption in Croatian football, perceived
the alleged perjury as a defence of Mamić and became critical of Modrić. Some international
news outlets praised him for dealing with the stress of his legal situation
while performing with the Croatian team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In October and
December 2018, the perjury charge was rejected by the Croatian courts.
No comments:
Post a Comment