Reinvented Regista role and dirty work: How Luka Modric has tactically transformed AC Milan

Sometimes, a signing arrives that changes everything from day one. They are rare, but AC Milan have hit the jackpot with one: Luka Modric.

Modric might have landed in Serie A at the age of 39 and has recently turned 40, but age is just a number. He has been nothing short of a revelation since he arrived at Milan with his levels of performance but also helping to build a new, more positive culture in the dressing room.

Massimiliano Allegri put him at the centre of his tactical plans, by the most literally sense of the word. Modric has played all season as the Regista (deep-lying playmaker) in a three-man midfield, dictating the tempo of the game and proving to be incredible effective in both phases.

Beyond the data about being a league-leader in virtually every passing metric, Modric is having a big impact on those around him and how Milan play too. Rohit Rajeev has analysed what the Ballon d’Or winner has changed.

A reinvention

Demetrio Albertini spoke in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport about how Modric has re-invented himself in a deeper role, just like Andrea Pirlo did, albeit a bit earlier in his career. How does this work?

Modric always positions himself under the ball which means that he is always open to receiving the ball from his team-mates in a deeper position thereby not allowing opposition to press.

In this sequence, Tomori is moving into a pressing trap laid by Lecce where they look to out number Tomori in the wide areas. Modric adjust his position to receive the ball from the defender via a back pass and switch play thereby catching the opposition out.

Modric would angle himself between two defenders to act as a passing option when opposition press higher up the pitch.

Not every time does Modric have to act as a passing option but sometimes he can engage an opponent and prevent creating 2v1 situations.

Here we can see Gabbia is free to receive the ball from Maignan, as the Bologna player is engaged in pressing Modric and is afraid to leave him without a marker.

At times, the former Real Madrid man drops back into the defence and allows defenders – in particular Pavlovic – to move forward.

Modric likes to vertically move play forward quickly, often looking to play long balls over defenders looking for runners over the top. These are line-breaking passes, great for breaking down blocks.

With his passing range, the Croatian has the passing range to find through balls for attackers behind defences.

The dirty work

Being the pivot of the five-man midfield line, Modric is responsible for directing the defence. If the opposition are attacking through the left flank then Milan’s press will concentrated towards the left.

Subsequently if it is through the right then press is directed towards the right. This sort of play requires high tactical awareness and Modric shows he is capable of this.

Modric isn’t high on tackles but he ranks very high on interceptions using his above mentioned tactical awareness to intercept passes.

He also applies principles of situational defending. Here we can see Udinese’s Atta trying to counter through the centre to cause havoc but Modric pushes him out further wide while waiting for reinforcements.

The data

Modric leads Serie A in total passes, successful passes, forward passes, successful forward passes and successful crosses from set-pieces.

Before the last round of action, he had the most Progressive Passes per 90 of any player in the ‘top five’ European leagues:

🥇 Luka Modrić – 13.47 (Milan, 40 years old)
🥈 Fàbian Ruiz – 12.72 (PSG, 29 years old)
🥉 Bryan Cristante – 12.71 (Roma, 30 years old)

Modric is averaging 8.42 Progressive Passes per 90, as well as 0.18 Goal Creating Actions, 4.56 Shot Creating Actions, 1.23 Passes into Penalty Area, 1.58 Tackles and 1.75 Interceptions. Solid work at both ends.

A useful comparison that shows how Modric is all-action is his numbers against those of his predecessor in Tijjani Reijnders and another high-profile summer signing in Kevin De Bruyne.

The Croatian comes out comfortably on top in Duels Won %, Possessions Won, Forward Passes, Forward Pass % and Progressive Passes. (Note: the Key Pass number seems to be glitched).

In short, it’s hard to quantify what Modric has brought to Milan in just stats and even through tactical observations, such is the magnitude of his impact on those around him too.

However, we feel comfortable in saying that performance levels and his standard-setting on and off the pitch have helped instantly rejuvenate a side that finished eighth in the league last season, with Allegri’s help of course.