It is hard to believe that the man once labelled La Liga’s biggest transfer mistake just walked off the Bernabeu pitch as one of Real Madrid’s most beloved figures.

While Luka Modric will feature in the Club World Cup for Real Madrid, the Croatian midfielder played his final game at the Santiago Bernabeu this weekend. The 2–0 win over Real Sociedad marked the end of something extraordinary, as Real Madrid fans witnessed the magic of Modric at the Bernabeu one last time.

Los Blancos have been home to some of the greatest footballers in history, and the Croatian international ranks right alongside the very best to have ever worn that iconic white jersey. Before his move to the Bernabeu, Modric had not won any major titles in his career. But after 13 years at the club, he leaves as the most decorated player in the club’s history having won 28 titles.

On a personal level, he won the Ballon d’Or, The Best FIFA Men’s Player and UEFA Best Player in Europe back in 2018 after Real Madrid completed a historic three-peat in the UEFA Champions League. Although no longer a regular starter, the 39-year-old still possesses that magic and his ability to control the tempo of the game remains as impressive as ever.

As Luka Modric’s incredible chapter at Madrid draws to a close, it is time to reflect on the remarkable journey that transformed him from an underestimated signing into a club legend.

Making a name at Tottenham

Luka Modric came up the ranks at Croatian outfit Dinamo Zagreb and made a name for himself while playing for their first team before joining Tottenham in the summer of 2008. In the initial years at Spurs, the majority of his appearances used to come out wide on the left in midfield.

Standing at just 172cm with a lean physique, coaches used to warn the then-Spurs boss Harry Redknapp that Modric would get murdered if he put him in a central role. However, Redknapp didn’t listen to them and went ahead with what he felt was right and the rest is history.

While speaking about Luka Modric’s transition from playing out wide on the left to a more central role, Redknapp said via , “When I first went to Tottenham, he played out on the left and I said I’m going to move him central,”

“A couple of the coaches that were there before I came at Tottenham said, ‘Harry, you can’t play him there. He’s not strong enough, he’ll get murdered’. On the Saturday we played Chelsea and remember the coaches against it, [they said], ‘Harry it’s a bit different. They’ve got [Michael] Essien, [Frank] Lampard, [Michael] Ballack, they’ll be too strong for Luca’. ‘No’, I said, ‘They won’t be too strong for Luca’. He played there, it was fantastic and he never played anywhere else again, did he?

The West Ham legend’s decision to trust Modric in a more central role did wonders for Spurs as well as for him. He helped guide Tottenham back to the Champions League in 2010 before eventually leaving the club to join Real Madrid in the summer of 2012.

Voted as the worst La Liga signing of 2012

Luka Modric was set to leave Spurs back in 2011. He was close to joining rivals Chelsea, but Daniel Levy blocked the move. In 2012, Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid came knocking to sign the Croatian international. While Levy was again reluctant to sell, causing a lot of trouble for both Modric and the Spanish giants, a deal worth around £30 million was eventually agreed, paving the way for his move to Madrid.

The Croat had a very difficult start to life at Real Madrid. He struggled to adjust to life in Spain and Mourinho’s style of play. The majority of his appearances came off the bench as he was unable to adjust to the pace of the game in La Liga. Just four months after his move, he was voted the worst La Liga signing of that summer by the online readers of Marca.

While things were not going according to plan for the Croatian international, Mourinho came to his rescue as he assured Real Madrid fans that Modric would eventually come good and that they would fall in love with him.

Mourinho on Modric back in 2012 via , “All I ask you Madridistas is to give Luka Modrić time and be patient. He’s so good that the Santiago Bernabéu will fall in love with his class.”

The Portuguese manager had seen him up close and he certainly knew what he was talking about. 13 years down the line, every Real Madrid fan would agree that Mourinho was right. Modric has had a phenomenal career at Real Madrid, but it would not have been possible without Redknapp and Mourinho, who identified his talent and backed him at different stages of his career.

Luka Modric’s didn’t just survive, he dominated

Since Jose Mourinho’s departure in the summer of 2013, Real Madrid have had five different managers. However, it is Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane who have spent the most time in charge, each overseeing two separate stints at the club.

Both managers had a significant impact on Modric’s development and helped elevate his game to another level. While he already possessed excellent ball control and technical ability, it was at Madrid that he evolved into a deep-lying playmaker who was press-resistant, tactically intelligent, and capable of dictating the tempo of matches with remarkable consistency.

He formed an exceptional trio with Casemiro and Toni Kroos and together, they marked a great era at Real Madrid. While Modric was a consistent performer for them, he used to step up when the going got difficult. The Croatian playmaker had made it a habit of stepping up and delivering the final pass that would make the difference.

He was the one who delivered the corner that Sergio Ramos headed home in injury time of the 2014 Champions League final against Atletico Madrid. And who could forget the iconic trivela pass to Rodrygo against Chelsea in 2022? These are just two moments among countless others where Modric made a decisive impact on the outcome of a match.

Overall, he has made 591 appearances for the Spanish giants, contributing to 138 goals. That tally is set to rise, with the Croat expected to feature one final time at the Club World Cup next month. During his illustrious spell at the club, he has won six Champions League titles, four La Liga titles, and a host of other major honours.

Modric is undoubtedly a special player, but to maintain such an elite level of performance until the age of 39 is truly extraordinary. And it is not just about what he has achieved at Real Madrid, leading Croatia to a World Cup final and winning the Golden Ball in 2018 speaks volumes about the impact he has had for both club and country.

Luka Modric is undoubtedly a master of playing simple football. He was never about flashy tricks, extravagant dribbles, or spectacular goals. Instead, the Croatian did exactly what was needed, whether it was a simple pass to the player next to him or a precise 40-metre diagonal ball, he executed it flawlessly.

Johan Cruyff once said via : “Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.”

While playing simple football is often the hardest part, for Modric it came naturally, and that is why he will be remembered as one of the greatest to ever wear the white jersey.

As Modric’s incredible career at Real Madrid draws to a close, his legacy goes well beyond just goals and trophies. His leadership, humility, and professionalism have set the bar high both on and off the pitch, inspiring teammates and fans alike.

In a squad full of superstars, it was Modric’s quiet brilliance and dedication to simple, effective football that became a model for excellence at the Bernabeu. The 39-year-old will go down as a true legend who redefined what it means to control the midfield and shape the club’s destiny. With him leaving, Los Blancos have a massive task of identifying the perfect replacement for the Ballon d’Or winner.