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Goal.com 50: Luka Modric (27)
Goal.com's countdown of the best 50 players of 2010-11 continues with the Croatian, whose contributions to Spurs' 2010-11 season caught the eye of Chelsea.
Aug 5, 2011 5:00:00 AM
By Stephen Crawford
Getty
Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 21 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50...
For some footballers, the path to recognition is a smooth one. Comfortable surroundings, freedom of expression and endless encouragement are commonplace, but this was not the case for Luka Modric – the talented attacker has traversed a rocky road to get to where he is today.
Growing up during the Croatian War of Independence, a young Modric had to hone his skills for the game he loved during great unrest in his country. However, persistence and passion would eventually prevail, as the star's hard work saw him taken under the wing of Dinamo Zagreb, the most historically successful club in Croatia.
Cultivating his skills as a left-sided attacking midfielder in the Prva HNL after a loan spell in Bosnia's top-flight, Modric's innate ability on the pitch earned him a plethora of domestic honors that would eventually lead to his big break: a 19 million euro move to Tottenham.
The Croat struggled initially, with a niggling injury making things difficult, but it was then-coach Juande Ramos' plan to play Modric from deep that truly hindered his introduction to the English Premier League.
The Spaniard's attempt to exploit the attacker's passing range and vision from a withdrawn role was ultimately ill-fated, leading many fans to believe that their first arrival of the summer had flopped.
But just as quickly as Ramos departed, new manager Harry Redknapp redeployed the midfielder, this time playing him in his preferred advanced role. Living up to his own admission that "anyone who has played in Bosnia can play anywhere in the world", referring to the physical nature of the Premier League, Modric went on to help Spurs to surprising top-four finish and, more importantly, a place in the Champions League.
Many had written Tottenham off as quickly as the club had qualified, and some will remember the incredible performances of Gareth Bale against Inter more vividly, but it was the creative maestro that helped Redknapp's men come of age in Europe's most prestigious competition. His finest moment came against holders Inter, when a sublime dummy left Sulley Muntari for dead, before he slipped the ball through to Rafael van der Vaart, who duly opened the scoring in a game that none of the White Hart Lane faithful will soon forget.
It is such performances that make the Modric a unique and special player. Two-footed and ever industrious, his slight frame, pace and skill allows slick movement both on and off the ball. Add to that his technical prowess – the 25-year-old finished in the top three for both completed passes and interceptions made in the EPL for the 2010-11 term – and then top it off with the dedication and humble nature of a man Harry Redknapp describes as "the model player".
It is no surprise, then, that the former Dinamo Zagreb star's consistency earned him the Tottenham Hotspur Fan's Player of the Year, as well as the attention of one Roman Abramovich.
The Chelsea supremo has made no secret of his club's wish to sign Modric, and has seen his side rebuffed more than once in the process. Spurs clearly hope to hold on to the beating heart of their team. But the player himself has confessed his wish to play Champions League football with the Blues, much to the dismay of Tottenham's management.
What happens now for Modric? Deep into the transfer window, the Croat's future is very much up for debate, but there is one definite in this time of uncertainty: whichever team is afforded the pleasure of Modric for the 2011-12 campaign will be better off as a result.
For some footballers, the path to recognition is a smooth one. Comfortable surroundings, freedom of expression and endless encouragement are commonplace, but this was not the case for Luka Modric – the talented attacker has traversed a rocky road to get to where he is today.
Growing up during the Croatian War of Independence, a young Modric had to hone his skills for the game he loved during great unrest in his country. However, persistence and passion would eventually prevail, as the star's hard work saw him taken under the wing of Dinamo Zagreb, the most historically successful club in Croatia.
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"You think teams have got good players until you see them play against him, and you realize he's on another level." - Harry Redknapp
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Cultivating his skills as a left-sided attacking midfielder in the Prva HNL after a loan spell in Bosnia's top-flight, Modric's innate ability on the pitch earned him a plethora of domestic honors that would eventually lead to his big break: a 19 million euro move to Tottenham.
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| 2010-11 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TOTTENHAM 3-1 INTER |
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| Leaving Sulley Muntari for dead, Modric's deadly pass allowed Rafael van der Vaart to slide the ball past Julio Cesar and send a message to the rest of Europe's contenders. |
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The Spaniard's attempt to exploit the attacker's passing range and vision from a withdrawn role was ultimately ill-fated, leading many fans to believe that their first arrival of the summer had flopped.
But just as quickly as Ramos departed, new manager Harry Redknapp redeployed the midfielder, this time playing him in his preferred advanced role. Living up to his own admission that "anyone who has played in Bosnia can play anywhere in the world", referring to the physical nature of the Premier League, Modric went on to help Spurs to surprising top-four finish and, more importantly, a place in the Champions League.
Many had written Tottenham off as quickly as the club had qualified, and some will remember the incredible performances of Gareth Bale against Inter more vividly, but it was the creative maestro that helped Redknapp's men come of age in Europe's most prestigious competition. His finest moment came against holders Inter, when a sublime dummy left Sulley Muntari for dead, before he slipped the ball through to Rafael van der Vaart, who duly opened the scoring in a game that none of the White Hart Lane faithful will soon forget.
It is such performances that make the Modric a unique and special player. Two-footed and ever industrious, his slight frame, pace and skill allows slick movement both on and off the ball. Add to that his technical prowess – the 25-year-old finished in the top three for both completed passes and interceptions made in the EPL for the 2010-11 term – and then top it off with the dedication and humble nature of a man Harry Redknapp describes as "the model player".
It is no surprise, then, that the former Dinamo Zagreb star's consistency earned him the Tottenham Hotspur Fan's Player of the Year, as well as the attention of one Roman Abramovich.
| "Two-footed and ever-industrious, Modric's slight frame, pace and skill allows slick movement both on and off the ball." |
The Chelsea supremo has made no secret of his club's wish to sign Modric, and has seen his side rebuffed more than once in the process. Spurs clearly hope to hold on to the beating heart of their team. But the player himself has confessed his wish to play Champions League football with the Blues, much to the dismay of Tottenham's management.
What happens now for Modric? Deep into the transfer window, the Croat's future is very much up for debate, but there is one definite in this time of uncertainty: whichever team is afforded the pleasure of Modric for the 2011-12 campaign will be better off as a result.
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