Luka Modric Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

Luka Modric Childhood Story Plus Untold Biography Facts

LifeBogger presents the Full Story of a Croatian and Real Madrid Football Legend who is best known by the Nickname; “Lucky Luka”.

Our version of Luka Modric’s Biography Facts, including his Childhood Story, brings you a full account of the notable events of his boyhood days. We then tell you how the Real Madrid Legend became successful in the beautiful game.

The analysis of Modric’s History involves his life story before fame, family life and many OFF and ON-Pitch little-known facts about him.

Yes, everyone knows about his abilities, but few consider our Luka Modric Biography, which is quite interesting. Now, without further ado, let’s dive into the meat and potatoes of Modric’s story.

Luka Modric Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:

This is Luka Modric in his childhood days.
This is Luka Modric in his childhood days.

For Biography starters, Luka Modrić was born on the 9th day of September 1985 in Zadar, Croatia. He was born into a family of refugees who fled from Serbian aggressors during the Bosnia War.

Luka Modric’s mum, Radojka Modrić, was once a textile worker and his father, Stipe Modrić, was once a military mechanic who repaired cars for Croatian soldiers at war.

Luka, during his childhood times, experienced the horrific events in Zadar during the Croatian War.

There was this boy who used to kick the ball around the hotel parking lot all day,” were the words of NK Zadar chairman Josip Bajlo when commenting on Modric in his early days.

“He was skinny and really small for his age, but you could see right away that he had something special in him.”

At this age, little Luka had accepted what he wanted to do in life.
At this age, little Luka had accepted what he wanted to do in life.

Luka was constantly judged because of his little physique. He was considered small and weak and someone who wouldn’t grow to the physique of a footballer.

One could trust that he will be a big player. However, the ball was ‘pretty in his legs’ as Luka focused on playing on his own in front of his family’s hotel room.

The only way he could check if he was worthy to play football was to go for a youth trial. The opportunity came as contained in the career summary.

Luka Modric Biography – Career Summary:

Modric first had a youth trial at Hajduk Split. Unfortunately, just as people said, he was rejected by Hajduk Split for lacking the required physical attributes.

It is still unclear what God did for this gene of his that changed his story. It was still a revelation that Luka was destined to become a top player.

Young Luka focused all his strength on working hard. He later corrected people’s wrong impression that he was physically weak and small.

This came at a time he got what people would call “A narrow success” at Dinamo Zagreb. It was a happy start to his career.

Luka Modric Early Life in career Football.
Luka Modric Early Life in Career Football.

As soon as he entered the club, Modric eventually showed lots of faith and quality. Dinamo Zagreb quickly extended his contract to ten years.

He had a slow and steady growth in height after being fed with lots of growth supplements by club officials.

In a bid to have more experience, Luka was loaned out to Zrinjski Mostar after playing for Dinamo Zagreb. This was a point where his career really took flight. He also had another loan spell at Inter Zaprešić in Bosnia.

After much maturity, he returned and made his full senior debut for Dinamo in 2005. He won three consecutive league titles and domestic cups with them. Luka was named the Prva HNL Player of the Year in 2007.

In 2008, he moved to Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, where he led the Spurs to their first UEFA Champions League appearance in almost 50 years, reaching the quarter-finals of the 2010–11 tournament.

After the 2011–12 season, he moved to Real Madrid for a fee of £33 million. The rest, as they say, is now history.

Luka Modric Family Life:

As stated earlier, his family were victims of the Bosnia war. They spent their lives fleeing from Serbian aggressors.

Lack of a home, few clothes and shelter made his family very poor during the period they were unsettled.

Soon, their refugee poor family background changed when Luka Modric’s father, Stipe Modric, got a decent job as a Croatian Army mechanic.

At that time, Luka’s Grandfather, who was also called Luka, was a Soldier who fought along connecting major towns.

His life was feared as the Serbian Army, the JNA and the army of the “Krajina” carried out intensive fighting and military activities in his zone. Grandfather Luka was killed by his enemies. 

After his death, Luka and his family moved to Zadar. As soon as they left, they immediately lit their house on fire – says Stanko Modric, a close relative of the Luka Modrić family.

At Zadar, they settled in a cheap hotel, thanks to monies made by Luka’s father, Stipe Modric, who still remains an expert mechanic. Stipe continued his mechanic job at Zadar.

He provided for his family, thus making them move above the poverty line to a higher middle-class family background. It was a Zadar that Luka started playing football, as stated earlier.

Thanks to Luka’s Career, the life of his family, in spite of the war and the lack of living, normalized to the fullest extent. They are now super-rich, all thanks to Luka’s football money.

About Luka Modric’s Wife – Vanja Bosnić:

The Love Life of the Real Madrid Legend is centred around one woman. Her name is Vanja Bosnić.

They started dating in 2006, during his loan spell return to Dinamo Zagreb. Luka made her his agent as soon as he developed full trust and confidence in her as the woman of his dreams.

Vanja Bosnic is the strong woman behind Luka Modric. She was the brain behind Luka’s transfer battles that made his move possible from Tottenham to Real Madrid.

Luka Modrić is still madly in love with her green eyes (see above), pretty face, height and long, fat, pretty legs, as seen below.

Luka Modric Wife Facts.
Luka Modric Wife Facts.

A Shy Luka Modric married Vanja Bosnić in May 2010 in the Croatian capital, Zagreb, after four years of dating. His teammate at the time, Vedran Ćorluka, was his best man.

Their marriage was quickly blessed with the fruit of the womb. Vanja Bosnić and Luka’s first son, Ivano, was born on 6 June 2010. Their daughter, Ema, was born on April 25, 2013.

Vanja Bosnić and Luka’s second daughter, Sofia, were born on the 2nd day of October 2017.

Modrić generally lives a quiet family life, all thanks to his humble beginning. He believes he should be seen as a footballer and not a celebrity or model.

Meet the members of Luka Modric's family.
Meet the members of Luka Modric’s family.

“I only ever try to do the best I can on the football pitch. I’m not a model or something. I am a football player,” these are the words of a Real Madrid Legend who’s got his feet rooted to the ground.

The only thing which surpasses football in Luka’s mind is his family. For him, it’s about the two F’s- Football and Family.

Luka Modric Biography Facts – FARE’s ‘Euro 2016 Refugee XI:

Modric is of course, not alone in having flourished through adversity and difficulty to become the footballer he later became. Other footballers, as seen below, were also refugees.

Recently, the anti-discrimination football network known as ‘FARE’ put together a line-up of players who were formerly refugees to celebrate ‘World Refugee Day’.

The team also included the likes of brothers Granit and Taulant Xhaka, Christian Benteke, Nani and Modric.

They are seen as the world’s most active participants who leave everything behind to celebrate ‘World Refugee Day’.

Luka Modric Biography Facts – He idolised Ronaldo from a young age:

Modric had a soft spot, not for CR7 but for Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima. The Croatian once claimed…

“Growing up, my first pair of shin pads had a picture of Ronaldo on them. I was a Nike product, and I loved them. I loved Ronaldo.

The old Ronaldo! And I wore those shinpads for years. From when I was a little kid right up to when I started playing professionally in the Bosnian League. It had lots of tears before I eventually gave them to someone as a present.”

Perhaps it’s from the Brazilian Ronaldo that Modric learned how to sharpen his attacking prowess.

Luka Modric Biography – When it all went sour at White Hart Lane:

Things finally cooled down with Modric loving life in the Spanish capital. It was Tottenham who still felt bitter about the incidents that once followed his transfer saga to the Spanish giant.

The Croatians leaving the North London club was more awkward than both parties would’ve liked. This was what truly happened.

In the summer of 2012, Modric made it clear that he desired a move to Real Madrid, but Tottenham was, perhaps understandably, reluctant to let their star man depart.

The club was adamant that Madrid must pay £40 million to secure his services and, with Tottenham indirectly blocking the move, Modric refused to train with his club.

By implication, it made Andre Villas-Boas and company to fine him two weeks’ wages, which amounted to £80,000. He paid it and still refused to train. This was when Tottenham gave up and initiated the transfer.

Modric eventually made the switch for £30 million, but bitterness consumed the Tottenham faithful.

Luka Modric Relative is Mark Viduka:

Did you know? The former World Best Footballer is a relative of Australian football legend – Mark Viduka.

Both footballers are cousins. Mark Viduka’s family have their origin in Croatia. They migrated to Australia in the 60s.

Luka Modric Biography – What he will be remembered for:

Luka will be forever remembered for the following attributes when he finally retires.

  • We will remember Modric for being the best modern-day’s most diminutive midfielder.
  • For his quick and creative playmaking abilities.
  • We will remember Modric for his great vision on the pitch.
  • For being able to change the course of a game with deft passes, solo, and long-range efforts.
  • We will remember Modric for being able to play with both feet.
  • For his swift and offensive positioning off the ball.
  • We will remember Modric for his ability to pass the ball accurately across long or short distances.
  • Finally, for being a master of ‘Pre-assist’.
  • For being an inspiration for thousands of Croatian footballers – the likes of Josko Gvardiol, Nikola Vlasic, Dominik Livakovic, etc.

Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness while delivering the Biography of Croatian Footballers. Stay tuned for more Football stories from LifeBogger.

The Life History of Wout Faes and Bradley Barcola will excite you. If you see something that doesn’t look right in Modric’s Bio, kindly contact us!

Hi there! I am Hale Hendrix, a passionate football enthusiast and writer dedicated to uncovering the untold stories of footballers' childhood and biography. With a deep love for the beautiful game, I have spent countless hours researching and interviewing players to bring to light the lesser-known details of their lives.

4 COMMENTS

  1. THE STORY IS ACCURATETHAT lUKA IS A CROATIAN FROM A FATHER SIDE AND IS VERY SAD THAT HE LOST HIS GRANDFATHER. AGAIN IS VERY SAD FOR LOSING HIS GRANDDAD IN THE WAR IN THE THE 90S BECAUSE OF SERBIAN AGGRESSION AS DESCRIBED IN THE STORY . THOUGH HIS MOTHER IS SERBIAN AND IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN THE 40S HIS MOTHERS FAMILY HALF MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY WAS KILLED BY CROATIAN ARMY. KRAJINA SERBS SAY THAT WAS AGERSION ON SERB PEOPLE AND SAY THAT CROATIAN ARMY IN THE SECOND WORLD IN THE 40S KILLED MORE THAN HALF OF MILLION SERBS AND THOUSANDS OF JEWS AND ROMA GYPSY . THOUGH THE USA OFFICIALS AND OTHER WESTERNS OFFICIALS AT THAT TIME SAY THAT CROATIAN ARMY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR KILLED AROUND 350 000 SERBS OF SERBIAN KRAJINA AND REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA . IN THE 90 LUKAS UNKL FROM MOTHER SIDE HER COUSIN FOUGHT AGAINST CROATIAN ARMY WAS IN THE ARMY ON REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA CRAJINA . IN 95 CROATIAN ARMY BOMBED THE SERBIAN KRAJINA LUKAS RELATIVES FROM MOTHER SIDE COUSINES FLED TO SERBIA WITH OTHER PEOPLE UP TO 500 000 MILLION PEOPLE HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES TO SAVE THEIR LIFES BECOME REFUGES IN SERBIA . THIS PEOPLE WERE BOMBED AGAIN IN 1999 HAD TO FLEE AGAIN AND SO ON. LUKA IS A GREAT PLAYER WE ALL LOVE HIM ALL THE SYMPATHY AND EMPATHY FOR THE LOSS OF HIS GRANDDAD . THOUGH WE AS A HUMAN BEINGS MUST BE IMPARTIAL NON BIAS FEEL THE PAIN FOR ALL VICTIMS OF WARS BECAUSE HUMAN BEING IS FIRST A HUMAN BEING AND DOES NOT HAVE NATIONALITY IN THE HUMANISTIC WORLD . IMPARTIAL AND NON BIAS HUMANISTIC VIEW HAS SYMPATHY FOR WALL HUMAN BEINGS DOESNT MATTER FROM WHICH SIDE THEY COME.

  2. Other things is very sad when people in Croatia have to hide their origins who are their parents or grandparents what origin and culture they are . The language is constantly modifying to be different than Serbian , Bosnian children in schools, kindergarten are told to speak the government not how the grandparents or parents speaks at home. Everybody loves when Croatia plays in red and white jersey. But Croatia choosed to have jersey of Black and light black colours which represents the dark story of the past from the 1940s and 1990s . What if Italy wants to play in black jersey what represents the dark past of the 40s that would be very sad . Many people do not symphyse when Croatia plays in black jersey even loyal supporters though politics unfortunately are not separable from sport in Croatia.

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