Real Madrid legend Luka Modric has revealed that former manager Jose Mourinho was the "toughest" coach he ever worked under. Modric also shared a striking locker room incident where Mourinho's intense demands reduced superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to tears. The Croatian midfielder's comments came in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.[goal+4]
Mourinho's Direct and Honest Approach
Modric, currently 40 years old and playing for AC Milan, described Mourinho as a "special" individual, both as a coach and a person. He praised Mourinho's direct and honest communication style, noting that the Portuguese manager treated all players equally, regardless of their status. Modric explained, "Mourinho is very direct with the players, but he's honest. He treated Sergio Ramos and the new arrivals the same way: if he had to tell you something, he'd tell you."[goal+4]
The specific incident involving Cristiano Ronaldo stemmed from a lack of defensive effort. Modric recounted seeing Mourinho make Ronaldo cry in the dressing room because the forward, "for once, didn't chase the opposing full-back." This moment underscored Mourinho's uncompromising approach to team discipline and work rate, even for a player of Ronaldo's caliber.[goal+9]
Modric's Arrival Under Mourinho
Jose Mourinho was instrumental in bringing Modric to Real Madrid. Modric joined the Spanish giants in August 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth €30 million. Modric expressed regret that he only had the opportunity to play one season under Mourinho, who departed Real Madrid in 2013. "He was the one who wanted me at Real Madrid. Without Mourinho, I would never have arrived. I'm sorry I only had him for one season," Modric told Corriere della Sera.[goal+2]
During their single season together in 2012-2013, Real Madrid finished second in La Liga, 15 points behind Barcelona. They also exited the Champions League in the semi-finals and lost the Spanish Cup final. Despite the team's mixed results that season, Modric quickly established himself as a key player for Real Madrid.[goal+9]
Ronaldo and Mourinho's Tense Relationship
Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41 and playing for Al-Nassr, spent three seasons under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. Their relationship was often described as tumultuous or tense, despite Ronaldo's phenomenal goal-scoring record under Mourinho's system. Ronaldo scored 168 goals in 164 matches during Mourinho's tenure.[indulgexpress+2]
Reports indicate that tensions between the two Portuguese figures had begun to fray by the 2012-2013 campaign. The specific incident where Mourinho criticized Ronaldo for not tracking back reportedly occurred after a January 2013 match against Valencia. Mourinho publicly criticized Ronaldo's defensive contribution, leading to a strong reaction from Ronaldo.[chosun+4]
Modric's Illustrious Real Madrid Career
After Mourinho's departure, Luka Modric went on to have an incredibly successful career at Real Madrid. He won 28 major trophies with the club, including six UEFA Champions League titles and four La Liga titles. Modric is widely considered one of the greatest midfielders of all time and the greatest Croatian player ever. He left Real Madrid in July 2025, joining Serie A club AC Milan on a free transfer.[en+1]
Cristiano Ronaldo also continued his illustrious career after Mourinho, leaving Real Madrid in 2018 to join Italian club Juventus, before moving to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr.[goal+1]
Modric's revelation offers a rare glimpse into the demanding environment Jose Mourinho fostered at Real Madrid. It highlights Mourinho's unwavering commitment to his tactical principles and his belief in holding every player accountable, even global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo.[indulgexpress]
