Luka Modric, the master of the midfield, was addressed by Stimac as a "friend," a "ex-player," and "one of the greatest of all time." He wrote on Twitter that his sons Ivan and Niko were ecstatic to have met their hero. For them, it was a moment of fulfillment, as Stimac put it. In his own words, the former defender described his encounter with Modric as a "happiness, joy, and tears" fusion.

Real Madrid star Modric and Stimac, a bronze medallist for Croatia at the 1998 World Cup, get along well. Throughout Croatia's 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, Stimac served as Modric's coach.

In addition to winning bronze in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Modric was a member of the Croatian side that placed second in the 2018 World Cup. In 2019, Stimac was appointed as the coach of India's football team. Luka Modric, the captain of Croatia, wished Stimac luck in his new role.

">