The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, who has won the 2018 Ballon d’Or, had kind words to say about his manager at White Hart Lane.
Many Tottenham Hotspur fans rejoiced upon finding out that Spurs legend Luka Modric has won the 2018 Ballon d’Or.
On Monday evening, the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder became the first player other than Messi and Ronaldo to win the accolade since Brazil forward Kaka in 2007.
Modric has enjoyed an incredible 2018, winning a third consecutive Champions League trophy, leading his country to the World Cup final, and sweeping the individual awards board.
Incredible to think that, just 10 years ago, the midfielder initially struggled to get to grips in the Premier League, having moved from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer of 2008.
A column in The Guardian even suggested that he “looked a misfit” during a dreadful start for Spurs that saw them drop to the foot of the Premier League table after eight matches.
But then, a seemingly routine change in manager ended up changing Modric’s time at Tottenham and eventually his career trajectory, as Harry Redknapp replaced the struggling Juande Ramos.
Initially deployed as a number 10 or on the left wing, the Croatian was shifted further back to a more central midfielder role, where he could have more influence on the game.
And given how things have panned out since then for Modric, it’s safe to say Redknapp’s man-management worked wonders – something the player himself agrees with.
Speaking to BBC Sport after picking up the Ballon d’Or, the playmaker said: “Change of position helped me a lot in my career. I used to play more offensively.
“When I dropped back, I was able to read the game better and show my creativity. Harry Redknapp made that change.”
When the world’s greatest footballer all but single-handedly credits you for getting him to that pinnacle, you can’t really ask for a better commendation as a coach.
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