It may be April, but this is no April Fool’s joke. One of the greatest midfielders of the modern era, Luka Modrić, has become a minority owner of Swansea City AFC. The Real Madrid and Croatia legend will be joining the Swans’ ownership group in what is believed to be his first venture into football club ownership.
Luka joins with an incredible legacy. He’s the most decorated player in Real Madrid’s history, having lifted six Champions League trophies, six Club World Cups, five European Super Cups, four La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, and five Spanish Super Cups.
On the international stage, he played in the 2018 World Cup Final and is Croatia’s all-time most capped player. At 39, he’s still going strong, making 45 appearances for Real Madrid this season and scoring four goals.
Given his profile, the announcement will surely play a key role in raising the Swan’s global profile.
Speaking on the club website regarding the announcement, Luka said “This is an exciting opportunity. Swansea has a strong identity, an incredible fanbase, and the ambition to compete at the highest level. Playing at the highest level, I believe I can provide my experience to the club. My goal is to support the club’s growth in a positive way and to help to build an exciting future.”
Tom Gorringe, CEO said “I am excited that Luka has come on board as an investor and co-owner. There is no better role model in the game for our players, from the academy right through to the first team. His endorsement of our ambition and willingness to support us on our journey will be instrumental as we aim to continue to improve our results on and off the pitch. In our conversations, he has demonstrated his passion for the club, his knowledge of how we are performing, and a genuine passion to help us improve. I am really looking forward to working with him more closely to drive us forward.”
The Swansea City board jointly stated, “We are delighted that Luka has joined our ownership group. From our first discussions, it was clear that there was alignment on our visions and that Luka would be a real asset to our group. We’d like to thank Luka and his team for their support through this process, and we look forward to welcoming him to the Swansea.com Stadium to meet you all as soon as possible.”
Feature image: Swansea City Football Club