Bond: Magic man Modric always had Luk of a superstar
LUKA MODRIC brings a smile to everyone’s face when they watch the Croatian magician in action.
None more so than his old Tottenham coach Kevin Bond.
Harry Redknapp’s former Spurs assistant (below) is still going strong as part of Joey Barton’s staff with Bristol Rovers in League Two, but made sure to tune in for the most recent instalment of a midfield masterclass when Real Madrid dumped Chelsea out of the Champions League this month.
Modric’s sublime outside of the right foot pass for Rodrygo’s vital goal had Bond on his feet applauding like everyone else.
But unlike most, he was able to contact the player directly.
“I sent him a message after the final whistle. It was just amazing, amazing, amazing,” said Bond.
“He’s always had that ability, the best outside of the right foot you can imagine. He was doing that every day in training. It brings a smile to my face when I see it.
“One of the best things about Luka Modric is that he’s one of the nicest men I’ve ever met in football. Just a lovely, lovely man. There is no bad side to him.
“He’s won however many Champions Leagues now and still he is just that lovely guy, and knowing that makes it all the more pleasing to see him do so well.”
Modric had already been at White Hart Lane a few months when Redknapp replaced Juande Ramos as boss in late 2008.
He was only 23 but soon began to make Bond, and plenty of others, reassess their long-held beliefs about what was required to thrive in the Premier League.
“Luka wasn’t the biggest, he certainly wasn’t the tallest, and there was a perception that he couldn’t play central midfield in a two,” he added. “He was playing off the left, a bit narrower, and the feeling was you needed stronger people in the middle.
“But it became evident pretty quickly what a good player this guy was.
“After a short period of time Luka got in there. It is laughable to think we even thought of Luka Modric not being able to play in a midfield two. He ran the show and was amazing, and we learned that quickly.
“He made everybody who thought we needed to be careful where to play him and blah, blah, blah, look very foolish.
“And he continued to excel throughout his time at Spurs.”
That, of course, is what brought him to the attention of Madrid, who came calling the season before he eventually moved to Spain in 2012.
“But the club wouldn’t let him go,” recalled Bond.
“Daniel Levy wouldn’t let him. He was under contract and everybody understood why he wanted to make the move.
“Luka was hugely disappointed, I mean hugely disappointed that he couldn’t go to Real Madrid. We all felt sorry for him that he couldn’t get his move.
“But unlike so many other players he got on with it and had another fantastic season before he left.”
He now aims to continue Manchester City’s long Champions League wait when the sides meet in the first leg of their semifinal clash on Tuesday.
Ex-City centre-back Bond will have mixed loyalties but it won’t stop him smiling as Modric
shines.