Bilic: I told Modric that Iniesta and Xavi were not better than him

He went to see a youngster who played for Inter Zapresic in 2004

Posted Monday, April 25, 2022 by Marca.com

Luka Modric has never had it easy, but his brand of football early in his professional career caught the eye of Slaven Bilic, the Croatia head coach at the time.

On the occasion of Real Madrid's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Chelsea, Modric invited Bilic to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu 18 years after he went to watch him play for Inter Zapresic.

"From the beginning I liked things [about him]. It didn't matter how old he was," Bilic told MARCA when speaking about Modric.

What did you think when you saw Modric play for the first time?

It was 2004, just after the European Championship in Portugal. Luka was just 19 years old. At that age there is a lot of difference if you are 19 or 21 - two years makes a difference. He was playing for N.K. Inter Zapresic, a small team that is now in the second division. He was on loan from Dinamo Zagreb. I went to see him and I liked things [about him] from the beginning. He had a lot of technique and a great character.

You immediately began to include him in your plans for the national team?

First it was in the U21s. Then he came in and was in the starting eleven in the qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup. After playing a few games we made him captain; he was an excellent leader on the pitch, he has a unique character. I have seen him conquer the football world. I would be lying if I said that at that moment I knew he was going to win a Ballon d'Or, spend 10 years at Real Madrid, be the best midfielder of the last decade, or at least the most complete. You could tell that he was ready to be one of the best Croatian players of all time.

What is so special about Modric?

He is very complete - he has everything. I remember in 2006, before the World Cup, I was at a football pitch in Austria because we were playing against them and before the game I told him that even if it was a big tournament for him, he had to trust himself and have courage. I told him: 'Maybe you are not better than Xavi or Iniesta, but you are in their league. They are not better than you.' I remember the look on his face; he was excited and grateful. He showed everyone that he was as good as them.

What stands out about Modric - his quality, his leadership or his character?

From the beginning Luka was the captain. He didn't have and doesn't have a big presence. He is not the strongest or the tallest, but he has always been a leader on the pitch, helping the others. From day one he took his responsibility. His years at Dinamo Zagreb, Tottenham and now his 10 years at Real Madrid helped him a lot. In the national team he became an absolute leader. In the last few years at Real Madrid, I have seen the real Modric. He is the one who carries the weight and gives balance to the team. He dictates the tempo of the game with his quality and his character. For me he is an absolute leader at Real Madrid. You have to understand and identify with a club like Real Madrid, and he does it perfectly.