Luka Modric's touching story, Serbs executed his grandfather, no one believed in his childhood talent
(8 years ago)Luka Modric has had to overcome many serious difficulties before becoming a professional footballer. When Croatia's captain was only 6 years old, his life was shaken when his beloved grandfather fell into the hands of Serb militants, while he was forced to live as a refugee in the country destroyed by [...]
When Croatia's captain was only 6 years old, his life was shaken when his beloved grandfather fell into the hands of Serb militants, while he was forced to live as a refugee in the war-torn homeland.
But despite such difficulties, this did not stop the ambitious boy from becoming one of the best players on the planet and now as 32 years old, a superstar.
On December 8, 1991, during the Balkan Wars, the violent Serb militia attacked Modric, a small village near the mountains of Veleb in northern Dalmatia and caused terror for Croatian families who had not fled their homeland.
Luka Modric Snr (Father), who was guarding his livestock on an abandoned road, was caught by a group of Serbs where he was brutally executed along with five other natives.
The idea was to send a message to the other inhabitants of Modric that they were to leave their city.
Death hit Luke hard. He was raised by his grandfather Luka Modric Snr, since his parents Stipe and Radojka worked for long hours in a clothing factory to support the family financially.
After the incident, his parents were forced to leave Modric and sought refuge at the Iz Hotel in the town of Zadar.
Without electricity or drinking water, the noises of grenades and bullets became a daily phenomenon for Luke and his sister Jasmine, not to mention the avoidance of landmines that could lead to death at any given moment.
But that didn't stop the boy from kicking a little football ball and playing in the hotel parking lot, dreaming that one day he won his existence that was destroyed by the war.
It's a great story for the rich, which is a testament to commitment, since four times the winner of the Champions League has accomplished this after a terrible tragedy.
Modric rarely speaks of his difficulties, but when he signed for the Spurs in 2008, he spoke of this period of his childhood.
When the war started, we became refugees, and this was a very difficult time. I was six years old. It was hard times”
We lived in a hotel for many years, and we fought financially, but I always loved football. I remember that I had my first defenses of Ronaldo Brazilians and I loved them a lot.
“The war made me stronger, it was a very difficult time for me and my family. I don't always mention it, but I won't forget it”
However, when Modric was 10 years old, he did not even like to be rejected by some trainers.
Split's Hajduk refused, but was Tomislav Basic, a coach who knew Modric from Zadar, took him on trial at Dinamo Zagreb.
From there his talent flourished, where he moved to Tottenham and then to Real Madrid, where today there is a pillar of this club and one of the most valuable footballers in the world.
His personal life couldn't be much better.
He married Vanja Bosnic, who's his agent. He ended singleness in 2010 in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.
The couple first met at the Mitz sports agency, where she worked.
Tottenham's former associate, and now to Croatia, Vedran Corluka, was the main witness in their marriage.
The couple's first child is Ivano's son and was born just three weeks after their marriage.
Then there are two other girls, Emma and Sofia.
Luka Modric today qualified in the World Cup finals after Croatia defeated 2-1 England, and on 15 July, Croats will face France.
