In January 2005, Dinamo Zagreb traveled to Spain for a winter training camp at the Lomas de Campoamor Golf & Resort in Orihuela, bringing along a 19-year-old named Luka Modrić whose career trajectory was about to shift forever.
Struggling with poor results and preparing for a difficult stretch in the Croatian league, the club used the Mediterranean trip to test whether Modrić—who had recently spent time on loan at Zrinjski Mostar and NK Inter Zaprešić—was ready for the demands of a club like Dinamo.
The First Match on Spanish Soil
The winter camp included friendlies against Eastern European opponents like Steaua, Shakhtar, and Zorya Luhansk. To conclude the trip on January 27, 2005, Dinamo faced Levante at the Ciutat.
Modrić made his first appearance in Spain as a starter, wearing the number 16 shirt for the visitors. Levante, managed by Bernd Schuster, used the fixture to rotate the squad and give playing time to less regular members.
Familiar Faces in the Levante Lineup
Schuster’s starting lineup that afternoon included Luis Manuel Rubiales, who later served as the president of the Federación Española de Fútbol between 2018 and 2023. Rubiales started the match before being substituted at halftime by José Enrique.
Levante won the encounter 2-1, though the club ultimately suffered relegation to Segunda at the end of the campaign. The squad also featured forward Sergio García, who would later become a European champion with Spain.
Return to Croatia and the Path Ahead
Following the fixture in Valencia, Modrić and the Dinamo expedition returned home to prepare for the resumption of the domestic season. After missing the first two matches following the winter break, Modrić played the full match against Kamen Ingrad, marking the beginning of a legendary career.
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