Football Player's Biography 7: Luka Modrić

Full name	Luka Modrić
Date of birth	9 September 1985 (1985-09-09) (age 25)
Place of birth	Zadar, SFR Yugoslavia
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 8¹⁄₂ in)
Playing position	Midfielder

Luka Modrić (pronounced [ˈluːka ˈmɔːdritɕ], born 9 September 1985 in Zadar) is a Croatian footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur and for the Croatian national football team as a midfielder.
Modrić's childhood coincided with the Croatian War of Independence. After showing promise in hometown club Zadar's youth team, he was signed by Dinamo Zagreb as a teenager in 2002. His professional career began with loan spells at Zrinjski Mostar and Inter Zaprešić.^[2] While he was at Dinamo Zagreb, they won three consecutive league titles^[3] and several domestic cups, with Modrić named Prva HNL "Player of the Year" in 2007

Club career

Early years

During the Croatian War of Independence, Modrić and his family lived in the town of Osijek but they were forced to flee the area when he was 6 years old. His father, Ivan Kapularić, was in the army, and he lost his grandfather in the fighting while his family were living in a hotel in Zadar. It was against this difficult backdrop that Modrić began playing football. When his father returned from the army, he used the little money the family had to enroll his son in the local sporting academy. After displaying some talent, Luka signed with Dinamo Zagreb as a 17 year old in 2002.
After a season with Dinamo Zagreb's youth side, he was loaned out in 2003 to Zrinjski Mostar in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During this spell, he established his versatile style of play and became the Bosnian and Herzegowinian League Player of the Year while still only 18 years old.^[5] He later claimed that "someone who can play in the Bosnian league can play anywhere", referring to its physical nature.^[5] The following year, he was again loaned out, this time to Inter Zaprešić in his home country. He spent one season with them, helping them earn promotion to the Croatian first league^[6] and was awarded the Croatian Football Hope of the Year award in 2004.He returned to Dinamo Zagreb in 2005.^[5]

Dinamo Zagreb

In 2005, Modrić signed his first long-term contract with Dinamo through to 2015. After a goalless first season, he managed to secure a place in Dinamo's first team, contributing 7 goals in 31 matches to help win the league.^[8] During this time, Modrić rapidly established his role as playmaker or designated left winger in the team's 4–2–3–1 formation.
In the 2006–07 season, Dinamo again won the league with Modrić making a similar contribution,^[8] acknowledged by the Prva HNL Player of the Year award. The following season, he led Dinamo's attempt to qualify for the UEFA cup. In the final play-off stage, Modrić converted a penalty in the away fixture against AFC Ajax in a game that ended 1–1 after normal time. Dinamo then went on to win the game 3–2 in extra time after a brace from teammate Mario Mandžukić secured their win on away goals.^[9] However, Dinamo Zagreb still failed to advance beyond the group stage.

At his last home game with Dinamo at Maksimir Stadium, Modrić was given a standing ovation and fans held up supportive banners.^[10]^[11] He finished his fantastic six year tenure at Dinamo with a tally of 31 goals and 29 assists in four seasons,^[12] contributing most notably in the 2007–08 season when Dinamo became champions by a 28 point margin and won the Croatian cup in the same year.

Tottenham Hotspur

2008–09 season

Modrić agreed transfer terms with Tottenham Hotspur on 26 April 2008. He was the first of many summer signings for coach Juande Ramos, and also the Premier League's first summer transfer.^[13] After signing a 6 year contract from summer 2008,^[14] Tottenham confirmed that the total fee paid was £16.5 million, equalling the club's record fee set by Darren Bent's move in 2007.^[15]
Modrić made his debut for Tottenham on 28 July 2008 in a pre-season friendly against Norwich City. He played 45 minutes at Carrow Road during the 5–1 victory.^[16] His competitive debut was on 16 August in the 2–1 defeat by Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in Spurs' first match of the 2008–09 Premier League season.
Initially, Spurs used him as a deep-lying playmaker in central midfield, usually alongside Jermaine Jenas, to utilise his passing range, vision and creativity to optimum effect. However, then-manager Juande Ramos wasted his talents, deploying him in an extremely deep defensive midfield role which his slight frame was not physically suited to. For his former club and his country, his greatest success had come in a more advanced, attacking left-sided role. Playing him out of position limited his influence, and was an instance of the poor managerial judgement which led to Ramos' sacking and Tottenham's terrible start to the season. Modrić also suffered from a niggling knee injury early in his Spurs career and he had to endure being labelled as a "light-weight" by sections of the media.^[18] This coincided with his poor form, knocking his confidence and making him even less effective, leading to concerns both for himself and Croatia manager Slaven Bilić.

However, with the appointment of current Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, Modrić was given a more familiar advanced attacking role as a central or left-sided midfielder, which had been a problem position for Tottenham in the past. In the first few months of the 2008–2009 season until the 2009 January transfer window, Modrić assumed a far more advanced role as a second striker behind one of Tottenham's two recognised first-team strikers, Roman Pavlyuchenko or Darren Bent. This allowed Modrić to have a far more attacking influence on the team and also utilise his footballing brain more productively, as in the thrilling 4–4 draw with arch rivals Arsenal on 26 October 2008.^[20] Modrić's impact in this position was well demonstrated with Tottenham's 4th and equalising goal when he collected the ball on his chest from Tom Huddlestone, and after a few controlled touches, unleashed a long-range half-volley which, courtesy of a deflection, hit the post and set up Aaron Lennon for a tap-in. Since this performance, his form improved considerably for Spurs, coinciding with his club's vastly improved form in the league. Redknapp recognised Modrić's value to his side, setting out plans to shape his new team around the Croatian playmaker.

During the January 2009 transfer window, Tottenham re-signed strikers Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane, allowing Modrić to return to midfield while retaining his advanced attacking role as a roaming left-sided midfielder. Spurs' other major signing, tough-tackling Honduran midfielder Wilson Palacios, bolstered Spurs' central midfield and gave Modrić more freedom in attack, while Palacios operated as a more defensive midfielder. Using him in his former position from Dinamo Zagreb days made him even more effective with inspirational performances against Hull City,^[22] Stoke^[23] and most notably, a match-winning performance against Chelsea.^[24]
Modrić scored his first Tottenham goal in a 2–2 draw against Spartak Moscow during the UEFA Cup group stages on the 18 December 2008.^[25] He scored his first Premier League goal against Newcastle United in Spurs' next match, three days later.^[26]

2009–10 season

Ahead of the 2009–10 season, ex-Spurs captain Jamie 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 and he’ll be even better this season."^[27]
On 29 August 2009, during Tottenham's 2–1 win over Birmingham City, Modrić was taken off injured with a suspected calf injury.^[28] The following day it was confirmed that Modrić had broken his leg, sustaining a fracture to his right fibula and was expected to be out for six weeks.

However, on 31 October 2009 Spurs' manager Harry Redknapp announced a delay to Modrić's return.^[30] Modrić finally returned to training after numerous delays on 8 December in a match against Grays Athletic.^[31] He made his first start in the Premiership for four months in the London derby against West Ham United which Spurs won 2–0, with Modrić making a telling contribution by scoring with the leg he broke in the 11th minute.
On 30 May 2010, Modrić was awarded with a new six-year contract, that runs until 2016. Modrić said after the deal; "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 4 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".^[32]

2010–11 season

On 11 September 2010, Modrić scored his first goal of the 2010–11 season with a 27th minute strike which put Tottenham 1–0 up away at West Bromwich Albion. The match finished in a 1–1 draw after Chris Brunt equalised. During the match, Modrić sustained an injury which was feared to be a repeat of the broken leg injury he sustained in the 2009–10 season. However scans later revealed there to be no damage. On 28 November, in a home match against Liverpool, Modrić scored a solitary goal, but it was later credited as an own goal by Liverpool defender Martin Škrtel.

International career

Modrić's first international experience came at youth level, playing for the Croatian U-17, U-19 and under-21 teams.
He made his full international debut on 1 March 2006 in a friendly match against Argentina in Basel, Switzerland, which Croatia won 3–2.^[5] At the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals, he made two appearances 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, scoring his first goal in Croatia's 2–0 friendly win over Italy on 16 August 2006 in Livorno. His performances ensured a regular place in the international side, and he gave an impressive showing in Croatia's successful Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, which recorded home and away victories against England.
Much was expected of the young midfielder often dubbed "the Croatian Cruyff".^[34] Modrić scored Croatia's first goal of Euro 2008, converting a penalty in the fourth minute of their 1–0 victory against Austria on 8 June 2008.^[35] 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 their next game when Croatia defeated one of the pre-tournament favorites and eventual finalists Germany.^[37]^[38]
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 game with only a minute remaining of extra time. However, Semih Şentürk equalised for Turkey almost immediately. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Modrić failed to score the first penalty with his off-target kick. Turkey went on to win the shootout 3–1.^[39] At the end of the competition, Modrić was included in the UEFA Team of the Tournament, becoming only the second Croatian to ever achieve this honour, the first being Davor Šuker

Style of play

Modrić can play with both feet, and combines this with his swift offensive positioning off the ball.^[41] His complex game brought him consistent success in the Croatian first division, as recognised when he was signed by Tottenham Hotspur in July 2008. His best role is as a central playmaker and during his time at Dinamo Zagreb, he proved his ability to play as an attacking midfielder, especially on his preferred left wing.^[41] In the Croatian national squad, Modrić linked up well with Niko Kovač, also demonstrating his defensive ability. Croatian team manager Bilić has utilised Modrić's flexibility to good effect when experimenting with the team formation.^[42] Most notably, Modrić formed a "telepathic understanding" with Eduardo^[43] when they played together at Dinamo and the national team.^[44] In 2010, Chelsea legend and former assistant manager Ray Wilkins, described Modrić as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.