Harry Redknapp has revealed that other coaches warned him against playing Luka Modric through the middle as they felt the former Tottenham man did not have the strength to play centrally.

Modric arrived at Spurs with a big reputation from Dinamo Zagreb but he did not have the smoothest of starts to his time in England, with Spurs picking up just two points in their first eight games of the 2008-09 season under Juande Ramos.

Daniel Levy then decided to part ways with the Spaniard and bring Redknapp through the door from Portsmouth, with the English manager instantly getting a tune out of Modric and the other talented players in the squad.

The Croat played off the left during the entirety of his first season at White Hart Lane before being moved centrally and the former Tottenham manager revealed that many advised him against moving him to the middle.
(Credit: Kaleidoscope Entertainment)

Harry Redknapp believed in Luka Modric at Spurs

Redknapp recalled that many felt the diminutive midfielder would not be able to cope with the physicality of the likes of Chelsea but pointed out that the player never looked back once he got an opportunity in the middle of the park.

He told Optus Sport about Modric: “He came here and then people started doubting whether he could play in England or not. And whether he was strong enough to play here which was incredible when you look back, he’s strong enough to play anywhere.

“When I first went to Tottenh...