Croatian captain Luka Modric turns 41 on Wednesday, but he isn’t ready to retire from international football just yet.
The Croatia FA has confirmed that their captain plans to continue playing for the national team in upcoming Nations League games, including one against England.
His decision coincided with Slaven Bilic’s return as manager, with the former West Ham manager guiding Modric’s fledgling international career during his first tenure in command of the Croatian team, from 2006 to 2012.
Modric won his first senior cap in March 2006, just before Bilic was named Croatia’s manager for the first time, and has since made 202 appearances for the country.
He was expected to hang his boots after this summer’s World Cup, when Zlatko Dalic’s side was knocked out in the last 32 by Portugal.
“Of course, Luka’s decision makes me extremely happy,” said Bilic, who was manager of Croatia when they denied Steve McLaren’s England side qualification for the 2008 Euros.
“We are all aware of what he brings to Croatia, both on and off the pitch.
“I’m looking forward to working with him again, after 14 years, and we both share a strong ambition to keep Croatia a top, successful team, shoulder to shoulder with the best teams in the world.”
Modric, who presently plays for AC Milan, won the Golden Ball at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, when he helped Croatia go to the final, where they were defeated by France.
He was also a member of the team that finished third in Qatar four years later.
Modric helped Croatia reach the quarter-finals in Austria and Switzerland after contributing to McLaren’s “wally with the brolly” moment at Wembley Stadium during the 2008 Euro qualifiers.
Croatia’s next international matches are in the Nations League, away to the Czech Republic on September 26 and Spain on September 29.
They will then host England in the competition on October 3rd, with the return match taking place at Wembley on November 12th.
