LUKA MODRIC is a small man who won't be bullied.
He has come a seriously long way since developing dribbling skills as a six-year-old in war-torn Croatia.
Tottenham midfielder Modric fled his home with his family before maturing as a footballer in the unforgiving Bosnian league.
And manager Harry Redknapp revealed this week that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson told him Modric could play in any team in the world.
But the midfielder's tough early experiences mean he refuses to get carried away with praise - even from 'the world's greatest boss'.
Modric, 23, said: "If you look at the class of players Mr Ferguson has managed over the years then I think it's safe to presume he knows a class player when he sees one. So to have praise from a man like that is fantastic. My Croatia boss Slaven Bilic said similar things to me, telling me that I could be as good as Kaka and Leo Messi, who like me isn't very big but still the defenders can't cope with him.
"When top managers like those say things like that you have to be happy, you can't get carried away."
Modric recalls the early years of his life as the Balkan war hit his home in Zaton as if they were yesterday.
He said: "Football got me through days when you were never sure if a bomb was going to go off.
"I remember the Balkan war very well. When I was a very young boy we had to escape from our village.
"We escaped to the coast where we found shelter in a hotel. The threat of bombs was still very real but all I did every day was practise, practise and practise. I probably made the staff crazy.
"It was not safe to go outside so I used to dribble up and down the halls of the hotel backwards and forwards just trying different tricks."
The 5ft 7in Modric was in brilliant form in the opening week of the season as Spurs beat Liverpool and Hull to go top of the table.
Some critics, including Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, said last year that Modric would not cope with the physical side of the Premier League.
But the star added: "I have a small build but no opposition player scares me. I went on loan to the Bosnian league when I was younger.
"People say Premier League defenders take no prisoners - but they are nothing compared to the way the defenders play in Bosnia.
"They will kick you up in the air all game long. After growing up in those sort of conditions there is no challenge that I consider too big.
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"If you can survive that you can do anything in football. I have nothing but respect for football, it now supports myself and my family."
Modric was just 18 when he was loaned out by Dinamo Zagreb to Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar but was named the league's player of the year that season. He was brought into the Premier League last summer by former Spurs manager Juande Ramos for £16.5million.
Modric added: "One of the big reasons I joined Spurs was because of my respect for Ramos. Maybe if he had not been at the club I would not have joined.
"I am glad I did though as I don't think we are far away from greatness. Things didn't work out with Juande and Spurs but he will never struggle to find work.
"Harry took over and I don't need to explain what he has done - the evidence is all in the results.
"I can see why so many fans want him for the England job - but England's loss is Tottenham's gain."
Despite flirting with relegation last season, Modric insists Spurs are now equipped to break up the Premier League's big four as they head for a derby at West Ham.
He said: "I love challenges and top four is a big one but a seriously achievable one now Harry is here.
"People say it is impossible for foreign players to know what London derbies mean but that is not true. In our case none more so than Arsenal. They are a great team but we aim to finish above them."
sounds really down to earth, nice piece.
He has come a seriously long way since developing dribbling skills as a six-year-old in war-torn Croatia.
Tottenham midfielder Modric fled his home with his family before maturing as a footballer in the unforgiving Bosnian league.
And manager Harry Redknapp revealed this week that Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson told him Modric could play in any team in the world.
But the midfielder's tough early experiences mean he refuses to get carried away with praise - even from 'the world's greatest boss'.
Modric, 23, said: "If you look at the class of players Mr Ferguson has managed over the years then I think it's safe to presume he knows a class player when he sees one. So to have praise from a man like that is fantastic. My Croatia boss Slaven Bilic said similar things to me, telling me that I could be as good as Kaka and Leo Messi, who like me isn't very big but still the defenders can't cope with him.
"When top managers like those say things like that you have to be happy, you can't get carried away."
Modric recalls the early years of his life as the Balkan war hit his home in Zaton as if they were yesterday.
He said: "Football got me through days when you were never sure if a bomb was going to go off.
"I remember the Balkan war very well. When I was a very young boy we had to escape from our village.
"We escaped to the coast where we found shelter in a hotel. The threat of bombs was still very real but all I did every day was practise, practise and practise. I probably made the staff crazy.
"It was not safe to go outside so I used to dribble up and down the halls of the hotel backwards and forwards just trying different tricks."
The 5ft 7in Modric was in brilliant form in the opening week of the season as Spurs beat Liverpool and Hull to go top of the table.
Some critics, including Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, said last year that Modric would not cope with the physical side of the Premier League.
But the star added: "I have a small build but no opposition player scares me. I went on loan to the Bosnian league when I was younger.
"People say Premier League defenders take no prisoners - but they are nothing compared to the way the defenders play in Bosnia.
"They will kick you up in the air all game long. After growing up in those sort of conditions there is no challenge that I consider too big.
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"If you can survive that you can do anything in football. I have nothing but respect for football, it now supports myself and my family."
Modric was just 18 when he was loaned out by Dinamo Zagreb to Bosnian side Zrinjski Mostar but was named the league's player of the year that season. He was brought into the Premier League last summer by former Spurs manager Juande Ramos for £16.5million.
Modric added: "One of the big reasons I joined Spurs was because of my respect for Ramos. Maybe if he had not been at the club I would not have joined.
"I am glad I did though as I don't think we are far away from greatness. Things didn't work out with Juande and Spurs but he will never struggle to find work.
"Harry took over and I don't need to explain what he has done - the evidence is all in the results.
"I can see why so many fans want him for the England job - but England's loss is Tottenham's gain."
Despite flirting with relegation last season, Modric insists Spurs are now equipped to break up the Premier League's big four as they head for a derby at West Ham.
He said: "I love challenges and top four is a big one but a seriously achievable one now Harry is here.
"People say it is impossible for foreign players to know what London derbies mean but that is not true. In our case none more so than Arsenal. They are a great team but we aim to finish above them."
sounds really down to earth, nice piece.
