Shuffle through the Oxford Dictionary for the word ‘Vidic’ and I bet you would find synonyms such as warrior, fighter and leader. There has been no better defender in the Premier League in the past decade than this unstoppable Serbian. Dominant in the aerial duels, aggressive in one-on-one situations, brick wall at the back and easily the most complete defender in the world in his prime. Signed from Spartak Moscow in the winter of 2006, the Serbian centre-back has been a terrific bargain and has gone on to win 15 trophies during his time at Old Trafford. In eight-and-a-half successful years at Old Trafford, Vidic has won five Premier League trophies in addition to a memorable Champions League triumph on that tumultuous night in Moscow.
Here are the 32-year old’s most memorable moments in the red of United.
1. Champions League 2008.
Vidic made his impact felt early at the Theatre of Dreams as his first European match for the Red Devils coincided with United winning their first away match in Europe for three years when they overcame Benfica 1-0 in Estadio da Luz. They reached the semi-finals that year, and went all the way the following season as United triumphed over Chelsea in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium in the nerve-wracking penalty shootout. Vidic was immense that night in his duel with Didier Drogba, the Ivorian eventually getting sent off for slapping the Serb. That night, he played alongside England defender Rio Ferdinand, with whom Vidic forged one of the most formidable centre-half partnerships in the world.