Nemanja Vidić ( serbian Cyrillic : Немања Видић, serbian pronunciation : [ němaɲa ʋǐːditɕ ] ; born 21 October 1981 ) is a serbian former professional football player who played as a centre-back. He played for Manchester United, was region of the Serbia national team and is now considered one of the best defenders of his generation. [ 3 ] He is one of only three players to win the Premier League Player of the Season prize twice, aboard Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] After establishing himself at Red Star Belgrade during the early 2000s, Vidić moved to Spartak Moscow in the summer of 2004. He further garnered breakout attention when he was partially of the “ celebrated Four ” Serbia and Montenegro national team defense that conceded barely one finish during the 2006 FIFA World Cup reservation campaign, prompting a £7 million transfer to Manchester United in January 2006. [ 6 ] Vidić then established a big defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand the pursue season, and was finally selected as the new team captain of Manchester United at the depart of the 2010–11 season. His captainship ran over the run of four seasons, until his passing in July 2014. [ 7 ] After a menstruation of eight years in Manchester, Vidić joined Serie A club Inter Milan on a free transfer. Vidić chiefly featured as a rotational player for two seasons, finally agreeing to an early termination of his contract on 18 January 2016, as a leave of inactivity due to a hernia injury. [ 8 ] Vidić then announced his retirement just under two weeks late, on 29 January. [ 9 ]
Reading: Nemanja Vidić
A yugoslav youth international, Vidić made his senior debut on 12 October 2002 against Italy in UEFA Euro 2004 qualification. [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Vidić was separate of Serbia and Montenegro ‘s “ Famous Four ” defense, [ 12 ] that conceded good one goal during the ten-spot 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, setting a criminal record for the fewest goals conceded. On 24 October 2011, Vidić retired from the serbian home team. [ 13 ] [ 14 ] Vidić collected a host of honours in his United career, including three back-to-back Premier League titles ( five titles in entire ), the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, three League Cup medals, equally well as being included in three consecutive ( four in entire ) PFA Team of the Year sides from 2007 to 2009 .
Club career [edit ]
early years [edit ]
Vidić was born to Dragoljub, a now-retired copper factory worker, and Zora, a bank clerk. Vidić took up football at six years of senesce, alongside his older brother Dušanko, with local side Jedinstvo Užice. He progressed cursorily, and moved to Sloboda Užice at the historic period of 12. [ 10 ] [ 15 ]
crimson Star and Spartak Moscow [edit ]
Two-and-a-half years after signing for Sloboda Užice, before his 15th birthday, Red Star Belgrade signed Vidić to their young system. He started his senior career on a season-long loan deal at Spartak Subotica in 2000. He moved back to Red Star after the loan deal ended, playing regularly in the top-flight Yugoslav League with coach Zoran Filipović. He won the 2001–02 Yugoslav Cup with Red Star. [ 16 ] Vidić quickly gained the captain ‘s armband, and during his three years as captain, he scored 12 goals in 67 matches and ended his red Star career on a high note by leading the cabaret to a domestic doubly. He won the 2004 Serbia and Montenegro League and Serbia and Montenegro Cup trophies with Red Star and, in July 2004, he joined russian Premier League side Spartak Moscow. The details of the transfer were not revealed, although it was reported that Vidić became the most expensive defender in the history of the Russian Premier League. [ 17 ]
manchester United [edit ]
2005–06 season [edit ]
After playing two seasons for Spartak Moscow, Vidić signed for Manchester United for a fee of around £7 million on 25 December 2005 [ 18 ] and joined the club on 5 January 2006 after his work permit was granted. [ 19 ] This was two-and-a-half years after Manchester United ‘s report interest in him began. [ 20 ] On this occasion, United beat out stiff competition for Vidić ‘s touch, as his transfer to Fiorentina in Italy had already been agreed with the clubhouse ‘s Sporting Director, Pantaleo Corvino. Since Fiorentina had to wait in order to complete the sign ascribable to not having any release non- EU spots on its roll at the meter, United stepped in and hijacked the transfer. [ 21 ] He was assigned the issue 15 shirt and on 25 January 2006, he made his debut for United as a substitute for Ruud van Nistelrooy in the dying minutes of a 2–1 succeed in the League Cup semi-final second base leg against Blackburn Rovers. [ 22 ] On 16 February 2006, Vidić won his first trophy with United, coming on in the 83rd hour for Wes Brown in the 2006 League Cup final acquire against Wigan Athletic. [ 23 ] Vidić received a decoration for his appearance in the final, but belated gave it to team-mate Giuseppe Rossi in recognition of Rossi ‘s contributions in the earlier rounds of the competition. [ 24 ]
Vidić in 2006
2006–07 season [edit ]
During the 2006–07 Premier League season, Vidić formed a partnership with Rio Ferdinand in the center of defense mechanism, which has since become one of the most big partnerships in european football, and became an established first team actor. [ 25 ] In his inaugural full season playing for Manchester United, he made 25 appearances in the Premier League and ended the season winning his first league decoration. [ 26 ] [ 27 ] Vidić scored his beginning always goal for United on 14 October 2006 against Wigan Athletic in the team ‘s 1–3 victory. [ 28 ] He scored his second goal in a 3–0 gain over Portsmouth on 4 November, his first goal at United ‘s Old Trafford stadium. [ 29 ] He scored his first Champions League goal for Manchester United against Benfica on 6 December in the Group Stage, a pit which United won 3–1. [ 30 ]
2007–08 season [edit ]
On 8 November 2007, Vidić signed a five-year contract extension, keeping him at Manchester United until 2012. [ 31 ] At the end of the 2007–08 season, he earned his moment straight Premier League decoration. [ 32 ] He was besides a part of the team which won the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final against Chelsea, [ 33 ] his beginning european decoration. During United ‘s 2007–08 season, he made 32 league appearances and scored one finish. [ 34 ]
2008–09 temper [edit ]
Vidic being sent off during the Premier League match against Liverpool FC on 14th March 2009 in Old Trafford During the 2008–09 season, Vidić was a pivotal part of the United defense in the absence of a number of other defenders during diverse parts of the season. He started every match in the domestic league, with United going on a commemorate run of 14 back-to-back clean sheets in Premier League matches. [ 35 ] [ 36 ] Towards the end of the 2008–09 season, Vidić was shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year prize, along with four other United players ; he was considered the favorite to receive the award, although it was former awarded to his team-mate Ryan Giggs. [ 37 ] Vidić was later named as the Manchester United Fans ‘ Player of the year and Players ‘ Player of the Year, succeeding Cristiano Ronaldo, who won both awards in 2007–08. [ 38 ] During the League Cup concluding, Vidić was deployed at right-back when he replaced John O’Shea. [ 39 ]
2009–10 season [edit ]
On 25 October 2009, Vidić was again sent off against Liverpool in a 2–0 get the better of, marking the third straight game against their fiercest rivals in which he had been shown a red card. On 21 March 2010, however, he managed to play a full 90 minutes in a 2–1 acquire against Liverpool at Old Trafford and again on 19 September 2010, this time in a 3–2 victory. [ 40 ]
2010–11 season [edit ]
On 23 July 2010, it was reported that Vidić had extended his shrink with Manchester United by agreeing to a new long-run sign, ending long-running guess of a move to Real Madrid. [ 41 ] The new four-year contract was signed on 20 August. [ 42 ] Vidić scored his first goal of the season on 11 September aside to Everton to put his side 1–2 up, the plot ending with a dramatic finish up, with the final sexual conquest 3–3. [ 43 ] After captaining Manchester United for the first five matches of the 2010–11 season, director Sir Alex Ferguson late confirmed that Vidić had taken over from Gary Neville as team and club captain on a permanent basis. On 30 October, Vidić scored his first base home goal of the season in a 2–0 league gain against Tottenham Hotspur, [ 44 ] the 1,000th to be scored at Old Trafford in the Premier League. On 13 November 2010, Vidić scored his third gear goal of the season in a 2–2 off draw against Aston Villa in the 85th moment to grab United a point from a 2–0 deficit. [ 45 ] On 1 February, Vidić scored against Aston Villa at Old Trafford with a brawny drive inside the penalty area as United won 3–1. [ 46 ] On 1 March 2011, Vidić was sent off in arrest clock time in an acute match against Chelsea for a foul on Ramires. Chelsea won 2–1. [ 47 ] Vidić got his revenge on 8 May, when he scored against Chelsea to end their entitle aspirations in a 2–1 victory, which besides propelled United toward a record-breaking 19th Premier league deed, a feat which was completed the following workweek at Blackburn Rovers .
2011–12 season [edit ]
In August 2011, Vidić started the season opening bet on, the 2011 FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium. He was taken off at half-time, however, along with spouse Rio Ferdinand as United trailed 2–0 to Manchester City. In the second half, United turned the game about and won 3–2. Vidić went on to lift the Shield as the captain, claiming his fourth Community Shield decoration of his career. A week later, he started in Manchester United ‘s opening Premier League fastness of the season at West Bromwich Albion, but was taken off during the second gear half with a calf injury. After the pit, it was initially thought that Vidić would alone miss a couple of weeks. A further diagnosis, however, found the injury to be worse than first feared, sidelining him for five weeks. He missed the wins against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea, and the 1–1 draw against Stoke City. [ 48 ] He besides missed the first two UEFA Champions League games of the season against Benfica and Basel, both ending in draw.
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After additionally missing the 2–0 base acquire against Norwich City on 1 October 2011, Sir Alex Ferguson indicated that he hoped Vidić would be bet on for the couple against Liverpool at Anfield on 15 October 2011. He did not make the equal at Anfield, but returned in the succeed game in the Champions League against Oțelul Galați. United won the game 2–0. Vidić, however, was sent off halfway through the second one-half for a high challenge in what was arguably a harsh decision. [ 49 ] After the catch, Ferguson said he could see why the reviewer gave the decision and that the golf club would not appeal, meaning Vidić had to serve a european suspension. [ 50 ] After missing the Manchester Derby the come weekend, which Manchester United heavily lost 6–1 to Manchester City, Vidić played his first wide 90 minutes of the season against Aldershot Town in a fourth round League Cup tie, which United won 3–0. He made his return to Premier League action at Goodison Park in a 0–1 acquire against Everton. In the adjacent four Premier League matches, he played a boastful partially in winning and keeping clean sheets against Sunderland ( 1–0 ) at Old Trafford and Swansea City ( 0–1 ) at the Liberty Stadium. There was nothing to be done, however, for conceding a goal from a penalty bang caused by a controversial Rio Ferdinand tackle at home against Newcastle United in a 1–1 hook. Nevertheless, the master took his side to another clean sheet at Villa Park in a 0–1 winnings against Aston Villa with Phil Jones scoring the entirely finish. Alex Ferguson rested Vidić at Old Trafford in a shocking 2–1 League Cup quarter-final defeat against Crystal Palace. On 7 December 2011, Vidić twisted his knee during United ‘s Champions League clash at Basel and left the field on a capstone. Ferguson former confirmed that he would miss the rest of the season. [ 51 ]
2012–13 season [edit ]
Vidić returned to first-team action on 20 August 2012 in a 0–1 away frustration to Everton. On 25 August 2012, in a home game against Fulham, he scored an own goal in the 64th moment. A crabbed was played into the box from the left-hand side that goalkeeper David de Gea came for and tried to punch, resulting in the Spaniard becoming sandwiched between Vidić and Mladen Petrić ; the musket ball came off his heel and bounced into the goal. On 25 September 2012, Vidić was ruled out for eight weeks due to another knee injury. He was expected to return for United ‘s game against CFR Cluj in the Champions League on 5 December 2012. He was ruled out of this game, however, and the next Premier League game against Manchester City. He finally managed to make a return from injury, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute for Rio Ferdinand against Sunderland on 15 December. On 13 January 2013, he scored from a Patrice Evra header, which deflected over his heading in a home game against Liverpool. Vidić managed to make 22 league appearances for the Red Devils, scoring one goal, as the club won its twentieth Premier League title, finishing 11 points over incumbents Manchester City .
2013–14 season [edit ]
On 7 February 2014, Vidić announced that he would be leaving Manchester United at the end of the 2013–14 season when his contract expires. Vidić stated : “ I ‘m not considering staying in England as the entirely club I ever wanted to play for here is Manchester United ”. [ 52 ] On 16 March, Vidić received his second yellow card and was subsequently sent off on 77 minutes in a 3–0 home kill against Liverpool. [ 53 ] Vidić ‘s ejection totaled to four red cards against Liverpool during his career at Manchester United, more than any other actor against an opposition in the history of the Premier League. [ 54 ] On 1 April, Vidić scored the open finish in Manchester United ‘s 1–1 Champions League quarter-final first branch disembowel against Bayern Munich. [ 55 ] United were finally knocked out by a 4–2 aggregate scoreline. [ 56 ] He played his last home match for Manchester United on 6 May against Hull City, in which he received three standing ovations : one during a pre-match presentation for him by Sir Bobby Charlton, the second when he came on as a substitute for Phil Jones, and the third gear for his first partake of the crippled. [ 57 ]
Inter Milan and retirement [edit ]
In 2014, Inter Milan announced that Vidić would be joining them at the end of his contract in July 2014. [ 58 ] He made his debut for Inter on 30 July 2014, playing against his former team, Manchester United, in the International Champions Cup ; he scored in the penalty shoot-out, but Inter lost the peer. In his competitive debut, a scoreless absorb at Torino on 31 August, he conceded a punishment by fouling Fabio Quagliarella and was sent off for dissent after sarcastically applauding the referee in add time. [ 59 ] On 18 September, Vidić was selected valet of the match after his operation against ukrainian side Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk where Inter won 1–0 in Kyiv thanks to a goal from Danilo D’Ambrosio. [ 60 ] Three days late, in workweek three of 2014–15 Serie A, he made an error that allowed Franco Vázquez to score the only goal for Palermo in a 1–1 draw at Stadio Renzo Barbera. [ 61 ] Following Walter Mazzarri ‘s passing as heading bus, the returning Roberto Mancini relegated Vidić to the bench in prefer of younger defenders Andrea Ranocchia and Juan Jesus. [ 62 ] On 11 January 2015, he played his first game in two months in a 3–1 winnings over Genoa, where he scored his first gear finish for Inter with a header in the 88th moment. [ 63 ] A string of injuries for Inter ‘s defense, and good performances from Vidić, made him re-establish himself as a first team player. On 18 January 2016, his sign with Inter Milan was ended by common accept. [ 64 ] 11 days late, on 29 January, the defender announced his retirement from the game with immediate consequence. [ 65 ]
International career [edit ]
A yugoslav youth international, Vidić made his senior debut on 12 October 2002 against Italy in UEFA Euro 2004 reservation. [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Vidić was part of Serbia and Montenegro ‘s “ Famous Four ” defense, [ 12 ] aboard Mladen Krstajić, Ivica Dragutinović and Goran Gavrančić, that conceded just one goal during the ten 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, setting a new record for the fewest goals conceded. Vidić played a major function in the last reservation game, against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which Serbia and Montenegro won 1–0 and plug reservation ; Vidić was given a red calling card, however, five minutes before the end. [ 10 ] Vidić missed out on Serbia and Montenegro ‘s opening group degree match against the Netherlands through abeyance from his previous bolshevik menu, [ 66 ] and on 12 June 2006, he injured his leftover knee ligaments during trail, and therefore he did not participate in any games at the 2006 World Cup. [ 67 ] After the World Cup, Vidić went on to represent the national team, now autonomous as the serbian national team. He was a even during 2010 World Cup qualifying when fit, and was instrumental in Serbia finishing top of their group ahead of the likes of France and Romania, with the best defensive record of all the teams participating in the group. Serbia had less luck at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and came in last invest in Group D. In a match against Germany in the Group Stage of the World Cup, Vidić gave away a penalty in the second half while Serbia were leading 1–0. however Lukas Podolski ‘s kick was successfully blocked by goalkeeper Vladimir Stojković. On 11 October 2011, Vidić missed a decisive punishment against Slovenia. On 24 October 2011, Vidić announced his retirement from the serbian national team, because of negative comments from fans about his performances in the national shirt. [ 13 ] [ 14 ]
manner of bring [edit ]
Described by David Pleat of The Guardian as a “ no-nonsense ” defender, Vidić has been labelled as a “ rugged ” center back, who was known for his physical challenges. [ 68 ] He was considered to be one of the world ‘s best centre-backs in his choice due to his defensive consistency and awareness, american samoa well as his force, leadership, and ability in the air, which made him a goal terror on set up pieces. As such, he formed an effective and successful defensive partnership with a more mobile and technical defender such as Rio Ferdinand during their fourth dimension together at Manchester United. [ 69 ] [ 70 ] [ 71 ] [ 72 ] Unlike Ferdinand, however, his playing dash focussed chiefly on the defensive aspect of the game, quite than attempting to carry the musket ball forth or play out from the back. [ 73 ] He was besides praised for his aggressive defensive expressive style by his Manchester United team-mates, and was highly regarded in the media for his on-the-pitch courage throughout his career. [ 74 ] [ 75 ] As a consequence, he enjoyed a cult condition among the United faithful, [ 76 ] [ 77 ] and was much compared to erstwhile Manchester United defender Steve Bruce, who had similar characteristics. [ 69 ] Although chiefly a center back, Vidić was besides adequate to of playing as a makeshift right-back on juncture, as was the case when he replaced O’Shea in the 2009 League Cup Final. [ 39 ] Although his prefer function was as share of a cardinal defensive pair in a back-four, he was besides able of playing in a three-man defensive line on juncture. [ 78 ] Pace being his major helplessness, particularly towards the end of his career, was compensated by his elect aligning and decision-making. [ 79 ] [ 80 ]
personal life sentence [edit ]
On 17 July 2005, Vidić married Ana Ivanović, an economics scholar at the University of Belgrade. They have three sons named Luka, Stefan, and Petar. [ 81 ] [ 82 ]
career statistics [edit ]
club [edit ]
International [edit ]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
FR Yugoslavia
2002
3
0
Serbia and Montenegro
2003
3
0
2004
3
0
2005
9
1
2006
2
0
Serbia
2006
2
1
2007
5
0
2008
9
0
2009
8
0
2010
9
0
2011
3
0
Total
56
2
- Scores and results list Serbia’s goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vidić goal.[85]
Honours [edit ]
Red Star Belgrade [ 86 ]
Manchester United [ 87 ]
Individual