Luka Modric (40) is a football legend who continues to give lessons every time AC Milan and the Croatian national team play a match. But he also finds time to look back on his career.
The Rossoneri midfielder spoke to ‘Corriere della Sera’ revealing his favorite coaches. Starting from Ancelotti “his number one“.
“Carlo is number one. It’s difficult to find the right words. For his way of being, not just for his coaching qualities. We often talked about Milan and AC Milan when we were in Madrid. For him, this place was also special. I remember when I met him. I was alone in the city. He called me on the phone and said: ‘Come on, come to dinner with me’. We talked for hours about everything. Of football, of family, of life. Coaches are usually not that close to the players. But he does“.
Mourinho’s harshness with CR7
He also praised Jose Mourinhorevealing a backstory on Cristiano Ronaldo. “It’s special. Both as a coach and as a person. It was he who wanted me at Real Madrid, without Mourinho I would never have arrived. I’m sorry I only had it for one season. I saw him make Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the locker roomsomeone who always gives everything on the pitch, just because once he didn’t follow the opposing full-back. Mourinho is very direct with the players, but he is honest. He treated Sergio Ramos and the new arrival the same way: if he had to tell you something, he told you. Max (Allegri) is like that too: he tells you straight to your face what’s right and what’s wrong. Honesty is key.”
Despite everything, Modric does not forget his origins, and has revealed who his most important coach was. “Tomo Basic, in Croatia, when I was a child. He was my father’s friend. He taught us to face injustices. He would hurt someone on purpose and he would observe our reactions. Some got angry, others cried because they felt uncomfortable. He explained to us that in football, as in life, we would see everything, even bullying. And that we should learn to face difficult times. There was a period when they said I couldn’t become a professional footballer because I was too small, too fragile: he told me not to listen to them. What matters is what you think about yourself, not what others say. He was right. He reassured me: ‘You will be the best in the world.’ Without him, without his words, I would never have gotten to where I am now.”
In the long and interesting interview, the veteran midfielder also recalled well-known episodes of his difficult childhood, when his grandfather was killed during the Balkan war and the family was forced to flee, leaving everything behind.
