Nemanja Vidic

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

After establishing himself at Red Star Belgrade during the early 2000s, Vidić moved to Spartak Moscow in the summer of 2004. He completed a £7 million transfer to Manchester United in January 2006, where he established a formidable defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand. Vidić spent eight years at United, during which time he won five Premier League titles, three Football League Cups, five FA Community Shields, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Champions League. He was appointed club captain in 2010, a position he held for four years until his departure. In 2014, Vidić joined Serie A club Inter Milan on a free transfer. He mainly featured as a rotational player for two seasons before retiring in January 2016 due to injury problems.

In Their Own Story

On 8 May 2011, Vidić scored against Chelsea to end their title aspirations in a crucial 2–1 victory. This goal propelled Manchester United toward a record-breaking 19th Premier League title, a feat completed the following week at Blackburn Rovers. Earlier that season, he had taken over from Gary Neville as team and club captain on a permanent basis after starting the first five matches. His leadership was tested by injury in August 2011 when a calf problem sidelined him for five weeks, causing him to miss key wins against Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers, and Chelsea. Despite missing the match at Anfield against Liverpool, he returned to score in the Champions League against Oțelul Galați before being sent off for a high challenge midway through the second half.

Reader's Guide

Vidić made his senior debut for Yugoslavia on 12 October 2002 against Italy in UEFA Euro 2004 qualification. He was part of Serbia and Montenegro's 'Famous Four' defence that conceded just one goal during the ten 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, setting a record for the fewest goals conceded. Vidić retired from the Serbia national team in October 2011. At Manchester United, he made his debut on 25 January 2006 as a substitute in a League Cup semi-final second leg against Blackburn Rovers. His first goal for United came on 14 October 2006 against Wigan Athletic. He formed a partnership with Rio Ferdinand in the centre of defence, which has since become one of the most prominent partnerships in European football. Vidić won the Premier League Player of the Season for the first time in 2008–09 and for the second time in 2010–11.

Did You Know?

• Vidić is the only defender to have won the Premier League Player of the Season award twice.
• He was one of five players to win the Premier League Player of the Season twice, alongside Thierry Henry, Kevin De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.
• Vidić gave his 2006 League Cup final medal to teammate Giuseppe Rossi in recognition of Rossi's contributions in earlier rounds.
• He scored the 1,000th Premier League goal at Old Trafford on 30 October 2010 against Tottenham Hotspur.