Luka Modric

Luka Modrić (; born 9 September, 1985 in Zadar) is a Croatian association football midfielder who currently plays for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. of the Premier League and for the Croatia national football team.

Modrić's childhood coincided with the Croatian War of Independence. After showing promise in hometown club NK Zadar's youth team, Luka Modric was signed by Dinamo Zagreb as a teenager in 2002. Luka Modric professional career began with loan spells at NK Zrinjski Mostar and NK Inter Zaprešić. While Luka Modric was at NK Dinamo Zagreb they won three consecutive league titles and a number of domestic cups, resulting in Modrić being named the Prva HNL "Player of the Year" in 2007.

Club career

Early years

During the war, Modrić and Luka Modric family lived in the town of Zaton (Dubrovnik-Neretva county). At the age of six, Luka Modric was forced to flee the area with Luka Modric family. Luka Modric lost Luka Modric grandfather in the war while the family were living in a hotel in Zadar, with Luka Modric father remaining in the army. Modrić began to play football under difficult circumstances before Luka Modric father returned and used the little money the family had to enroll Luka Modric in the local sporting academy. After displaying some talent, Luka Modric went on to sign with Dinamo Zagreb as a 17 year old in 2002. Luka Modric later claimed that "someone who can play in the Bosnian league can play anywhere", referring to the physical demands of the league. and gaining the Croatian Football Hope of the Year award in 2004. Luka Modric was subsequently recalled by NK Dinamo Zagreb in 2005. During this time, Modrić rapidly established Luka Modric primary role as a playmaker or designated left winger in the 4-2-3-1 formation.

In the 2006-07 season, Dinamo again won the league with Modrić providing a similar contribution. However, Dinamo Zagreb failed to advance beyond the group stage.

At Luka Modric last home game at Maksimir Stadium with Dinamo, Modrić was given a standing ovation and supportive banners were displayed by the fans . Luka Modric finished Luka Modric six year tenure at Dinamo with 31 goals and 29 assists throughout four seasons, most notably contributing to a first place finish in the 2007-08 season as Dinamo became champions, this time by a twenty-eight point margin. They also won the Croatian cup in the same year.

Tottenham Hotspur

Modrić agreed terms with Tottenham Hotspur F.C. on 26 April 2008 subject to receiving a work permit. Luka Modric was the first of many summer signings for coach Juande Ramos, and also the Premier League's first summer transfer. After signing a six year contract which began in the summer of 2008, 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.

Modrić made Luka Modric debut for Tottenham on 28 July 2008 in a pre-season friendly against Norwich City F.C.. Luka Modric played 45 minutes at Carrow Road during the 5-1 victory. Luka Modric competitive debut was in the 2-1 loss against Middlesbrough F.C. at the Riverside Stadium in Spurs' first match of the Premier League 2008–09 on 16 August.

Originally, Luka Modric had been deployed as a deep-lying playmaker in central midfield, normally alongside Jermaine Jenas, with the aim to utilise Luka Modric footballing brain, consisting of Luka Modric passing range, vision and creativity, most effectively. However, this backfired on then-manager Juande Ramos, and was subsequently wasted in this position as it also meant that Luka Modric overall effect on the team was limited, as Luka Modric was deployed in an extremely deep and disciplined role which Luka Modric small frame was not used to (he was regarded as playing in a more advanced and attacking role from the left side for Luka Modric former club and country), meaning Luka Modric could not exert much of an influence on Spurs' matches, and such ill-management lead to Ramos' sacking and Tottenham's terrible start to the season. Modrić suffered from a niggling knee injury early in Luka Modric Spurs career and had to endure being labelled "light-weight" from sections of the media, co-inciding with Luka Modric poor form, making Luka Modric even less effective and also leading to concerns from himself and Croatia manager Slaven Bilić.

However, since the appointment of current manager Harry Redknapp, Modrić has assumed a more familiar advanced and attacking role in the side, with Luka Modric current position being as a left-sided midfielder, which has been a problem position for Tottenham in the past. In addition, Luka Modric has also been deployed as the attacking-minded central midfielder in a two-man central midfield when another left-sided player plays as the left midfielder. For the first few months until the 2009 Winter transfer window, Modrić assumed a far more advanced role from Luka Modric previous one, as a second striker behind one of Tottenham's only recognised first-team strikers in either Roman Pavlyuchenko or Darren Bent. This enabled Modric to have a far more attacking influence on the team and also utilise Luka Modric footballing brain in a more productive capacity, and debuted in the thrilling 4-4 draw with arch rivals Arsenal F.C. on 26 October 2008. A beneficial example of this change was Modrić's impact for Tottenham's 4th and equalising goal; Luka Modric collected the ball on Luka Modric chest from Jermaine Jenas, and after a few controlled touches, unleashed a long-range half volley which, courtesy of a deflection, hit the bar and set up Aaron Lennon for an easy tap-in. Since this performance, Luka Modric form improved considerably for 'Spurs, which also co-incided with Luka Modric club's vastly improved form in the league. Redknapp, after a few months of Luka Modric improved form and promise, had expressed the sheer importance of Modrić's value to Luka Modric side, with plans to shape Luka Modric new team around the Croatian playmaker.

Since the closure of the 2009 Winter transfer window in which Tottenham had re-signed strikers Jermain Defoe and Robbie Keane, Modrić was then allowed to return to midfield while retaining Luka Modric advanced and attacking edge on the team as a roaming left-sided midfielder. With the other major signing of tough-tackling Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios to bolster 'Spurs' central midfield, it meant that it allowed Modrić a new sense of freedom to attack, while other players such as Palacios would do the defensive duties in midfield. Luka Modric also retained Luka Modric former position from NK Dinamo Zagreb, meaning Luka Modric could become even more effective. Once again, Luka Modric performances have been very impressive of late, with some inspirational performances against Hull City F.C., Stoke City and most notably, a match-winning performance against Chelsea F.C.. Also, Luka Modric brilliant form has ironically coincided with Tottenham's chase for 7th place, which potentially is the last Europa League place for Premier League 2009-10. Modrić has also gained interest from Italian Serie A outfit Juventus F.C. as a potential replacement for the retiring Pavel Nedvěd.

Modrić scored Luka Modric first Tottenham goal in a 2-2 draw against FC Spartak Moscow during the UEFA Cup group stages on the 18 December 2008. Luka Modric scored Luka Modric first Premier League goal against Newcastle United F.C. in Spurs' next match, three days later.

International career

Modrić's first international experience came at youth level, playing for the Croatian U-17, U-19 and Croatia national under-21 football teams.

Luka Modric made Luka Modric senior international debut in a friendly victory against Argentina national football team on 1 March 2006 in Basel, Switzerland.

With high expectations, Modrić scored Croatia's first goal of UEFA Euro 2008, converting a penalty in the fourth minute of their 1-0 victory against Austria national football team on 8 June 2008. It was the fastest penalty ever awarded and scored in European Championship history. Luka Modric continued to impress at the tournament as Luka Modric was named UEFA Man of the Match in their next game, in which Croatia defeated one of the pre-tournament favorites and eventual finalists German national football team.

In the quarter-final against Turkey national football team, Modrić took advantage of a mistake by the veteran Turkish goalkeeper Rüştü Reçber and managed to immediately cross the ball to teammate Ivan Klasnić, leading to the first goal of the game with only a minute remaining of extra time. However, Semih Şentürk equalised for Turkey almost immediately. With advancement based on a penalty shootout, Modrić failed to score the first penalty as Luka Modric kick went off target. Turkey went on to win 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 ever achieve this honour - the first being Davor Šuker.

International goals

Style of play

{{Quote_box Player of the Year: 2003
- Croatian Football Hope of the Year: 2004
- Croatian First League Player of the Year: 2007
- UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament: 2008
- Europe's Best Playmaker of the Year 08-09

Club

Dinamo Zagreb
- Croatian First League: Prva HNL 2005-06, Prva HNL 2006-07, Prva HNL 2007-08
- Croatian Cup: 2007, Croatian Cup 2007-08
- Croatian Supercup: 2006

Tottenham Hotspur
- Football League Cup Runners up medal 2009 Football League Cup Final.