There is scarcely an athlete alive who has not had to overcome obstacles. But the ones that Luka Modric had were unique. Modric’s journey to the top has been rockier and more demanding than the slopes of Croatia’s Velebit mountain in the tiny hamlet of Modrici near Zadar, where, as a five-year-old, young Luka used to herd his grandfather’s goats. It was from this background that this pencil-thin, frail-looking boy would rise to triumph against adversity to become not just one of Croatia’s most emblematic legends, but also one of the greatest footballers of his generation.

Luka Modric was first raised in a house where no football was kicked. He was very close to his grandfather whom he helped every day as a 5-year-old on the Croatian hillside herding goats. But when the Croatian War of Independence broke in 1991, his family was forced to flee to nearby Zadar. His grandfather refused to move and, cruelly, he was killed by invaders later during the war. This had a profound impact on Luka as he was not only named after his grandfather, but also remained very attached to him emotionally.

Homeless in Zadar, Luka’s family was accommodated in one of the hotels that had become makeshift refugee shelters. It was in a hotel car park that began to obsessively hone his football skills. Playing for hours every day, Modric became so good that he was selected for the youth team at NK Zadar – then a top-tier Croatian club.

Even though his talent was undeniable, Luka was always the smallest and skinniest player on his team. The shirt he wore should have fitted a boy his age but always fitted Luka like an XXL. In fact his boyhood club, Hajduk Split, turned him down because he was too small. Having done well at Zadar, he was picked up by Croatian superclub, Dinamo Zagreb.

At Zagreb too, Luka was initially not considered “strong enough” for the senior team and was sent on loans to various local clubs and the brutal Bosnian league that was notorious for its physicality. Not only did he come out of his loan spells unscathed, Luka made a name for himself at each of the clubs. Having proven himself, Modric finally got the opportunity to play for Dinamo Zagreb leading them to 3 consecutive league titles.

When he made the big move to Premier League club, Tottenham Hotspur, Modric was considered too “lightweight” for the league. But when manager, Harry Redknapp, spotted the burgeoning talent of the Croatian he hauled him in from the left wing and built a team around Modric in order to make him the club’s star man.

Modric’s success at Spurs earned him a dream transfer to Real Madrid in 2012. But even there, he struggled in his first season adapting to La Liga. In fact, in a poll organised by Madrid newspaper Marca, he was voted by Real Madrid fans as the “worst ever foreign signing” at the club. It was in the 2013-14 season under Carlo Ancelotti that Modric finally came into his own, dominating and controlling Real Madrid’s midfield for more than a decade.

Over the years, Modric has played almost 600 games for Real Madrid and won nearly 30 trophies, including the 2018 Ballon d’Or, a record six UEFA Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns, to become the most decorated player in the club’s history.

Who knows if Modric would have survived in most of today’s elite football clubs or academies where size and strength are often prioritised while going for wins. The reality is that Modric was an underdog at every point of his development. Always doubted, Modric has spent most of his career proving people wrong and coming out on top – no matter his challenges, his background or his size.

This is the kind of mentality we help children develop at Bravo. An academy where technique, talent and intelligence are prioritised over just physical attributes. Because when the physical attributes do level up as the children get older, it will be their individual technique, tactical game intelligence and character that will put them ahead of the rest. Winning is great, but not at the cost of individual development.

If you would like to help your child develop the Modric Mindset, call us on 9819337766 or 9819227766.

P.S. In a society where we are getting increasingly self-absorbed in our screens and indifferent to others, the 2 minute 54 second video below is a little reminder for us to empathise with others. Do watch with the kids 🙂