Tottenham defender Vedran Corluka admits he was a ball boy for Dinamo Zagreb against Manchester United.

Corluka was just a skinny 13-year-old when he patrolled the running track for stray balls on the edge of Dinamo's pitch while Manchester United contested a group game against Ossie Ardiles' side just five months after famously winning the 'Treble' back in 1999.

"I remember I was the ball boy against Manchester United," the Croatia international told the News of the World.

"I watched players like Roy Keane, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole. They were all there on the field yards away from me. They were the European champions at the time and I will never forget that feeling. I then dreamed that I might one day play for a big club.

"Everyone said to me 'Charlie, you are asking too much of yourself.' I was persistent and I had the dream that I would meet my aims. Then I had the chance to join Tottenham and play for a big club. My coach at Dinamo was Ardiles and I know he was a great player for Spurs.

"He told me about the team he played for and how later he managed Jurgen Klinsmann. Ardiles is still very well respected here at White Hart Lane."