Throughout his illustrious career, Luka Modrić has typically let his on-field performances do the talking.
A five-time Champions League winner and global star with Real Madrid, the Croatian has looked to avoid the limelight as much as possible and rarely gives interviews. Recently, however, he did give an interview, speaking to compatriot Slaven Bilić for Croatian-language show ‘(Ne)uspjeh Prvaka’.
In a long, far-reaching conversation, former West Ham and Everton defender Bilić asked Modrić about his start in the game, the importance of his family and his impressions of top-level soccer. But they also discussed Modrić’s childhood, growing up during the Croatian War of Independence. Modrić and his family were forced to flee and spent time as refugees, living in Hotel Kolovare for seven years.
Modrić explained: “It wasn’t an easy childhood. But when I look back on it, I can’t say it was an unhappy one. Quite the opposite, actually, I was a happy kid. Despite the war, despite the hardships of that time, I remember my childhood as a joyful one, because I was surrounded by friends.”
Modrić was just six years old when the war broke out and he credits his parents for managing to keep the reality of war away from their lives as much as possible. He recalled doing normal things as a child, playing soccer in the hotel’s parking lot alongside other refugee children.
“There were so many of us, because we were living in a hotel as refuges. And all those things that were happening around us, we were aware of them. But you had your friends, you went outside, and you played soccer all day long.”
“We did all the things kids do, hide and seek, games, laughter... We had a nice time.”
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