 "Luka Modric is now a minority stake holder in Swansea City. Image: Reuters")
In a move that surprised football fans around the world, Real Madrid legend Luka Modric has become a part-owner of English Football League (EFL) club Swansea City. The 39-year-old Croatian star, who is still playing for Real Madrid, has not left the Santiago Bernabeu, but he has stepped into a management role in the Welsh club.
Ballon d’Or winner Modric now owns a minority stake in Swansea, and many people are still wondering why a player with such a huge profile would invest in a second-division club in the UK. But reports suggest that this deal was in the works for quite some time. It’s not clear how much money Modric put into Swansea.
Why did Modric join Swansea?
Swansea’s new American owners, who took charge last November, were reportedly looking for someone with a big football name to help bring global attention to the club. They wanted someone who had real football experience and could help the club grow its profile.
Modric, a six-time Champions League winner and one of the most respected midfielders in the game, turned out to be a perfect fit. As per reports, after the owners found out that Modric was interested in football club ownership, they made him an offer.
Modric was reportedly impressed with the club’s history, fans, and goals for the future. Interestingly, he played against Swansea twice back in 2011-12 while he was at Tottenham Hotspur.
What will Modric actually do?
Modric won’t be playing for Swansea, even though his Real Madrid contract is ending soon. He’s focused on finishing the season with Madrid and possibly playing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. His role at Swansea will be more off-the-field, helping out where he can and offering advice.
Swansea’s CEO Tom Gorringe has said Modric is already showing interest in how the team is performing and has offered to help.
What’s up with Modric?
As far as Modric is concerned, he recently helped Real Madrid reach the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League 2024-25. However, Madrid suffered a shocking 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in the first leg and followed it up with another 2-1 loss in the second leg to go down 5-1 on aggregate and get knocked out of the competition.