Nemanja Vidic Bio Send To Friend  

Reports of an aggressive, uncompromising approach to his defending saw the player viewed as a Steve Bruce-type figure, able to bring the best out of £29.1m man Rio Ferdinand. And those reports proved correct as Ferdinand and Vidic dovetailed well after a shaky start to their partnership.

They are now considered to be the best central defensive partnership in the Premier League with Vidic a rock at the back and always a danger from set pieces.

Vidic had earned rave reviews for his part in a Serbia and Montenegro defensive effort that conceded just one goal on their way to the 2006 World Cup finals. And it was those performances which alerted Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Serbian is part of his national side's 'famous four' defence but he was unable to play a part in the 2006 finals themselves after a knee injury sustained in pre-tournament training.

He began his career with Red Star Belgrade, where he captained the side to major honours, before moving to Spartak in 2004. It was reported that Vidi became the most expensive defender in the history of the Russian Premier League, but he stayed for only two years before United swooped.

Vidic made his Manchester United debut in a 2-1 Carling Cup semi-final victory over Blackburn Rovers. He collected a medal in the final of that tournament after coming on as sub, but it was to be the following season where he became a fans' favourite.

A strongarm approach, great anticipation and an eye for goal, Vidic was a true star in United's championship of 2006-07. Indeed, a dislocated shoulder against Blackburn had many predicting trouble for United but they survived his absence though could have done with a fighting fit Vidic when a couple of errors handed AC Milan a place in the Champions League Final.

And he was again a collosus as United won the Premier League and Champions League double in 2007-08 and he signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at Manchester United until 2012.

Another Premier League medal followed the next season, and he started every match in the British Football League-record run of 14 consecutive clean sheets in top flight matches.

Vidic was shortlisted for the PFA Player of the Year award at the end of the season and has cemented his reputation as one of the top defenders in the world game.