Luka Modrić Croatian Soccer Player

 Luka Modric (Croatian pronunciation: [lûka mǒːdritɕ];  born 9 September 1985) is a Croatian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Real Madrid and captain of the Croatian national team. He performs specifically as a valuable midfielder, but can also play as an attacking midfielder or as a defensive midfielder, usually used as a deep lie playmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation, and the greatest Croatian footballer of all time.

Modric's childhood, born in Zadar, coincided with the Croatian War of Independence, which displaced his circle of relatives. In 2002, he signed for Dinamo Zagreb at the age of sixteen, showing promise with the youth team of his hometown club NK Zadar. He continued his development in Zagreb, before being loaned out to Zrinjski Mostar and Inter Zapresic. He made his debut for Dynamo in 2005 and won 3 consecutive league titles and national cups, and in 2007 was named Prva HNL Player of the Year. In 2008, he moved to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur for a transfer price of £ 16.5 million, where he led Spurs to their first UEFA Champions League appearance in almost 50 years, finishing in the semi-finals of the 2010-11 tournament. In the summer of 2012, Modric moved to Real Madrid for a transfer of 30 million pounds. There, he became a key player and helped the team win La Décima and get into the 2013-14 Champions League squad. After Zinedine Zidane took charge of Madrid, Modric became critical of three consecutive Champions League titles from 2015-16 to 2017-18, whenever he was voted into the squad of the season. He won seventeen major trophies at Real Madrid, as well as four UEFA Champions League titles, a La Liga title, one Spanish Cup, and three FIFA Club World Cup titles. In 2016, he won the La Liga award for "Best Midfielder" for the second time, and in 2017 and 2018, the UEFA Club Football Award for "Best Midfielder". In 2015, he became the first Croatian participant in the FIFPro World Cup XI, in which he often defended until 2019, as well as in the UEFA Team of the Year between 2016 and 2018. In 2018, Modric became the main Croatian entrant to win the UEFA Men's Best Player of the Year award, and using the FIFA Men's Best Player triumph and the Golden Ball Awards, he became the main player besides Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo to claim the awards for more than a decade. In 2019, he was awarded the Golden Leg Award for professional performance and personality.

Modric made his international debut for Croatia against Argentina in March 2006 and scored his first world goal in a pleasant match against Italy. Modric cemented Croatia's "2nd Golden Generation" by taking part in every major match that Croatia has qualified for, including the UEFA European Championship in 2008, 2012, and 2016, in addition to the FIFA World Cup in 2006, 2014, and 2018. At Euro 2008, he was selected for the team of the Tournament, becoming the second Croatian to ever receive this honor. After qualifying at the institution level in his first two World Cups, Modric led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, and he received the Golden Ball award for outstanding match participant. In March 2021, he immediately became the most popular player in the history of the United States. In addition, he was named Croatian Footballer of the Year in the document 9 times between 2007 and 2020.

Early Life

Luka Modric was born on September 9, 1985, and grew up in the village of Modric, which is part of the Zaton Obrovacki,  a village located on the southern slopes of Mount Velebit, north of the capital city of Zadar in the SR of Croatia, then a republic within the SFR of Yugoslavia. He is the eldest child of Stipe Modric from Modric and Radojka Dopudj from Krusevo, near Obrovac, both of whom worked in a knitting factory from the very beginning. Modric usually spent his early years in the stone house of his paternal grandfather, in honor of which he passed himself off as an outstanding person., located on a street above the village of Modric, and turned into a goat herder, like a five-year-old child.

However, his early life coincided with the Croatian War of Independence—in 1991, when the war escalated, his own family was forced to leave the area. Modric's grandfather Luka became famous thanks to the Serbian rebels who were part of the SAN Krajina police in December 1991 near his residence in Modric, and after his own family escaped, the residence was burned to the ground. Modric became a refugee and lived with his family in the Kolovare Hotel for seven years; later, he moved to the Iž Hotel, located in Zadar. His father joined the Croatian Army as an aircraft mechanic. In those years, many bombs fell on the metropolis, and football became a way to avoid the truth about the war. He remembers it as a difficult time for his own family and something that shaped him as a person. He also stated that, as a rule, he did not know about the war due to the fact that he made friends with many different teenagers, and their parents did not allow this to affect their early life.

In these difficult situations, Modric would start playing football, usually in a motel parking lot. In 1992, he simultaneously entered the number one faculty and the sports academy, the latter paid for with the little money that his own family had, from time to time helping through his uncle Modric. As a child, he was inspired to play football by Zvonimir Boban and Francesco Totti.

Club Career

Early years

Nineteen Nineties-05: NC and development through loans

With the support of his circle of relatives, he participated in the camps of consultants and received training in the NKVD. He became the mentor of Domagoj Basic and the head of the Academy of Teenagers Tomislav Basic. Tomislav Basic, whom Modric regarded as his "wearing father", said that Modric's father forced him to wear the shields because they had little money. However, Modric later refuted this story. Due to being too young and light, he turned into an unsigned with the help of Croatian powerhouse Hajduk Split, the ultimate football membership consultant in Dalmatia Having shown some talent, including at a match in Italy, Tomislav Basic arranged Modric's transfer to Dinamo Zagreb, while Modric became a 16-year-old player in Spain. 2001.

 After a season with the youth aspect of Dinamo Zagreb, Modric moved in 2003 on loan to Zrinjski Mostar in the Bosnian Premier League. During this period, he tapped into his versatile style of play and became the Bosnian Premier League Player of the Year at the age of 18. Modric later said: "Anyone who can play in the Bosnian Premier League can play everywhere," as far as his physical nature is concerned. The following year, he was loaned out to Inter Zapresic of Croatia. He spent one season there, helping the team to a second-place finish in the Prva HNL and a place in the preliminary round of the UEFA Cup. In 2004, he also received the Croatian Football Hope of the Year award. In 2005, he moved to Dinamo Zagreb.

Dinamo Zagreb

2005-08: Breakthrough in Croatia

In the 2005-06 season, Modric signed a ten-to 12-month deal (his first long-term deal) with Dinamo Zagreb. With the money he earned, he offered an apartment in Zadar for his circle of relatives. He secured a place in Dynamo's first group, making 7 goals in 31 appearances to help win the league. In the 2006-07 season, Dinamo won the league again, with Modric making a similar contribution. He became the main company for striker Eduardo, who helped Modric win the Prva HNL Player of the Year award. Next season, Modric, as team captain, led Dinamo's attempt to qualify for the 2007-08 UEFA Cup. In the final stage of the playoffs, Modric converted a penalty in the match of the 2nd and away matches in favor of Ajax; the game ended with a score of 1: 1 after the first half. Dynamo won the match and the playoffs 3-2 after more time with two dreams from teammate Mario Mandzukic.

 However, Dinamo Zagreb did not advance beyond the level of the organization. In his last home costume with membership at the Maksimir Stadium, Modric was given a standing ovation as fans held up supportive banners. He ended his 4-year stay at Dinamo with more than 31 points and 29 assists in four league seasons, he made the most contribution in the 2007-08 season, while Dinamo won the second Croatian Cup and became the champion by a margin of 28 points. Modric was courted through Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea, but decided to take part, leaving the membership.

Tottenham Hotspur

2008-10: Struggle and success in England

Modric (some distance to the left, No. 14), preparing for the start of the match for Tottenham against Arsenal in November 2010.

Modric agreed to join Tottenham Hotspur on 26 April 2008. He was the first of many summer signings for manager Juande Ramos, and also became the first summer transfer in the Premier League. Club chairman Daniel Levy immediately flew to Zagreb when Manchester City and Newcastle United were charmed, and after signing a six-year deal, Tottenham confirmed that the transfer fee was sixteen. 5 million pounds, which corresponds to the membership fee set under Darren Bent's pass in 2007. He received the number 14 jersey, later he remembered that he wore it in honor of Johan Cruyff. Modric made his Premier League debut on 16 August in a 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in Spurs ' first form of the 2008-09 season.

Modric has had a gradual start at Tottenham. Early in his tenure, he suffered a knee injury and, with the help of the media, as well as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, was labeled a lightweight for the Premier League. Reflecting on this, Modric stated that such " critics push you forward to expose people who are wrong. I may seem light, but I'm just a strong person mentally and physically, and I've never had a problem with my size." This coincided with his negative form, which led to problems both for him and for the head of the Croatian crew, Slaven Bilic. Modric spent his early days in the number 10 role before being moved to the left wing to play alongside Wilson Palacios.[53] Spurs teammate Tom Huddleston later said: "Versatility was probably a blessing and a curse, he was so great, that he needed to play a little bit outside of the role. "

After the appointment of manager Harry Redknapp, Modric moved to the more familiar position of center or left midfielder, which allowed him to exert additional influence on the team and use his football talent more productively, for example, in the 4-4 draw with Arsenal on 29 October. Redknapp appreciated the value of Modric for his aspect and planned to form his new team around the Croatian playmaker. He scored his first goal in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham: 2 against Spartak Moscow at some stage of the UEFA Cup on December 18, 2008. He scored his first Premier League goals against Newcastle United in an away defeat on 21 December, in a 0.33 FA Cup home win against Wigan Athletic on 2 January 2009, and in an away defeat against Manchester United on 25 April 2009. Modric's use in his former role since Dynamo made him particularly powerful in appearances against Stoke City, Hull City, and most notably on 21 March, when he scored the easiest goal in the win over Chelsea. 

Before the 2009-10 season, Harry Redknapp announced Modric: "[He's] a damn good player and a manager's dream, so I'm being advised. He trains like a demon and in no case complains, will work with the ball and without it on the sector and can beat the defender with a trick or pass. He may want to get into any team in the top 4. "On 29 August 2009, at some point in Tottenham's 2-1 win over Birmingham City, Modric changed into an injured man with a suspected calf injury. The next day, it was announced that Modric had suffered a fracture of his own fibula and was expected to be out for 6 weeks. He returned on 28 December as part of the London Derby against West Ham United, which Spurs won 2-0 with the intention of scoring in the 11th minute through Modric, using a broken leg. He scored again in the home win over Everton on 28 February 2010,  and in the away defeat against Burnley on 9 May. On May 30, 2010, Modric signed a new six-year agreement that lasted until 2016. After signing the contract, he said: "Tottenham Hotspur gave me a chance in the Premier League and I want to have a first-class success here with them. Yes, there have been requests from other major golfers, however, I don't have any hobby of going everywhere. Finishing on top of fourth place last season was a demonstration that we are members of the club, and I feel that I can keep improving and directly get everything I need at Spurs. "

International Career

Modric began his international career at the youth level, playing for the Croatian Under-15, Under-17, Under-18, Under-19, and Under-21 teams. He made his debut in March 2001 for the under-15 team coached by Martin Novoselac, but despite his talent and psychological maturity, he did not become a regular starter and leading player until he was physically fit and made his debut for the under-18 team. Novoselac considers him a model for all young players because it is the result of gradual and continuous work and effort, as well as talent. Modric made his debut for the Croatian national team on 1 March 2006 in a friendly match against Argentina in Basel, which Croatia won 3-2.

2006-08: World Cup 2006 and Euro 2008

Modric made two appearances in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final as a substitute in the group matches against Japan and Australia. With the appointment of new manager Slaven Bilic, Modric gained greater recognition at the international level; he scored his first goal in Croatia's 2-0 friendly win over world champions Italy on 16 August 2006 in Livorno.

Modric's performances secured him a regular place on the international stage, and he made a successful appearance in Croatia's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign, which included home and away wins over England. As a young midfielder, a lot was expected of Modric; he was often called the "Croatian Cruyff". Modric scored Croatia's first goal at Euro 2008, netting a penalty in the fourth minute of their 1-0 win over hosts Austria on 8 June 2008. It was the fastest penalty ever awarded and scored in the history of the European Championship. He continued to impress in the tournament and was named UEFA's Man of the Match in Croatia's next match when they defeated one of the preliminary tournament favorites and eventual finalists Germany. In the quarterfinals against Turkey., Modric took advantage of a mistake by veteran Turkish goalkeeper Ryush Rechber and crossed to teammate Ivan Klasnic for the first goal of the match with one minute of extra time remaining, but Semih Szentürk almost immediately equalized for Turkey. In the penalty shootout that followed, Modric's shot was off-target and he failed to score the first penalty, and Turkey won the series 3-1. At the end of the competition, Modric was included in the UEFA team for the Tournament, becoming only the second Croatian to receive this honor after Davor Shuker.

Personal Life

Modric married Vana Bosnich in May 2010 in the Croatian capital Zagreb in a private ceremony after four years of courtship,  and a year later in a church. Their son, Ivan, was born on June 6, 2010. Their daughter, Ema, was born on April 25, 2013. Their 2nd daughter, Sofia, was born on October 2, 2017.[359] Modric tends to keep a low profile of outdoor football. In addition to his native Croatian, Modric also speaks English, and Spanish, and is a Catholic.

Australian footballer Mark Viduka is his cousin.

In 2019, Modric published his autobiography "My Game" ("My Game"), co-written with the famous Croatian sports journalist Robert Matteoni.

Legal problems

In March 2018, Modric was called as a witness during the trial on charges of embezzlement and tax evasion against the previous executive director of Dinamo Zagreb, Zdravko Mamic. In the mid-2000s, Modric signed several contracts with Mamic to play in Dinamo Zagreb. Modric tied Tottenham's maximum transfer price to Mamik due to the fact that he moved to a brokerage company and provided Modric with monetary support early in his career. Although he announced in 2017 that he had signed a ten-year extension clause to the agreement, in his testimony he stated that he had signed it in 2004, the year of his first contract. Modric was charged with perjury for mentioning that he had annexed his headquarters earlier than expected. Faced with a choice, he stated: "I came here to defend my defense and report the truth, as I have always done until now. My moral sense is obvious." The Croatian Football Federation stood behind Modric, but a part of the Croatian public, irritated by the corruption in Croatian football, perceived the alleged perjury as a defense of Mamic and became vital to Modric. Some global information retailers praised him for handling the stress of his prison situation while playing with the Croatian team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In October and December 2018, the perjury rate was rejected by the Croatian courts.

Luka Modric Wife

Luka Modric has been married to his accomplice Vana Bosnich for more than 10 years. The couple met in 2007 when Vanya started working in the sports organization "Mamik".

Luka Modric net worth

How many tons does Luka Modric cost? Luka Modric's net worth and salary: Luka Modric is a member of Croatian football who has a net real worth of $ 75 million. Since 2021, Modric has been playing for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga.

Profession: Football player

Net Worth: $ 75 Million

Nationality: Croatia