Mamić Reveals How He Made Millions
The controversial former Dinamo chief spoke to Serbian outlet Sportal about lucrative transfers, his relationship with Luka Modrić, and an invitation from Aleksandar Vučić.
The controversial former Dinamo chief spoke to Serbian outlet Sportal about lucrative transfers, his relationship with Luka Modrić, and an invitation from Aleksandar Vučić.
Zdravko Mamić, the controversial former head of Dinamo, spoke at length to Serbian outlet Sportal about his business career, the transfers that put the Zagreb club on the map, and his relationship with Luka Modrić, one of the greatest players in Croatian football history. Mamić, who settled in Bosnia and Herzegovina after fleeing Croatian justice, claims his "tragedy" lasted ten years and grew in proportion to Dinamo's successes.
Mamić recounted how Dinamo was in dire financial straits before his arrival. The club owed tens of millions of euros and faced as many as 116 legal proceedings. According to him, the club was ironically saved from bankruptcy by the very people who initiated it. He formally joined Dinamo in November 2002, but a year earlier he had lent the club 12 million euros in cash.
"And then, when the legendary Robert Prosinečki and our greatest striker in history, Igor Cvitanović, initiated bankruptcy proceedings, actually wanting to collect some of their debts, they inadvertently saved the club. Because going into bankruptcy would have dissolved the joint-stock company," Mamić told Sportal.
Mamić revealed that in 2000 he opened a management agency, possibly the first in the former Yugoslavia. It represented nearly 100 players, including Luka Modrić, Dejan Lovren, and Eduardo da Silva. As early as 2001, he earned 10 million marks in a single day from the transfer of Boško Balaban to Aston Villa.
"So, in one deal, when I wasn't at Dinamo, I made 10 million marks, and nobody made a fuss about it," Mamić recalled.
Asked how he managed to pull off such lucrative transfers, Mamić explained his philosophy. He claims he was incorruptible and never settled for the first offer. As an example, he cited a situation where he was offered five million euros for a player, plus three million euros under the table for himself.
"I said, 'No, all the money-15 million-goes to Dinamo's account.' And that's how it always was. And look at the thanks I got. They claim I robbed the very club I lifted up, soared to heights, and put on the map of Europe. Unreal..." Mamić said.
A special part of the interview was dedicated to his relationship with Luka Modrić, whom Dinamo took in at age 14 as a war refugee. Modrić was sold to Tottenham in 2008, and Mamić claims he wanted his sporting path to be the right one, not just financially rewarding.
"When I told Luka Modrić he couldn't go to Newcastle or some other clubs, if he'd had a knife, he would have 'killed' me. And he writes that in his book. He held it against me, wouldn't even look at me or my brother," Mamić recounted.
He added that later, when Modrić moved from Tottenham to Real Madrid and built a stellar career, he "gave the cold shoulder" to Mamić's son, who no longer represents him. Still, Mamić stresses he is immensely proud of Modrić's career and that he is an unrivaled figure when it comes to dedication to the sport.
Mamić also touched on the relationship between Dinamo and Red Star. Although his friend Terza constantly says, "We are Zvezda, we are the best," Mamić believes Dinamo is currently stronger. Still, he predicts a great future for Zvezda, "unfortunately even greater than for my Dinamo."
At the end of the interview, Mamić addressed Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who once invited him to dinner at a Serbian restaurant. Mamić says he takes him at his word and is waiting for that invitation.
"And if he ever needs my blood in his life, I'll give it to him. He moved me so much because he always speaks well of me. I ask him to do everything to foster good neighborly relations between Serbs and Croats; our peoples deserve that," Mamić concluded.
Incidentally, Mamić's statements come at a time when Luka Modrić has signed a contract extension with Milan, while a decision on his continued play for the Croatian national team under returning coach Slaven Bilić has not yet been officially announced.
