Top 5 Most Memorable Nemanja Vidic Moments At Manchester United

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.

2. First Premier League title in 2007

Vidic’s first full season at  United was a successful one as United won their first league title for four years finishing six points ahead of bitter rivals Chelsea. That season, Vidic scored his first of 20 goals for United at the DW Stadium against Wigan, a game which finished 3-1 in favour of the Red Devils. The first time Vidic was acknowledged by his fellow professionals was in 2007 as Vidic was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year after his first full season in England.

3. FIFA World XI

Vidic was named in the FIFA World XI on two occasions, in 2009 and in 2011. He first selection came in 2009 when he made the elite team alongside the likes of Iker Casillas, Dani Alves, John Terry, teammate Patrice Evra, the Barcelona duo of Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Steven Gerrard, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres. The same season, United won the League title and reached the Champions League final in Rome, with Vidic at the heart of their defence. In that campaign, United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar achieved a Premier League record of 14 matches and 1,311 minutes without leaking a goal – a sequence that continued from November 2008 to February 2009, and coincided with Vidic earning the Premier League Player of the month in January 2009.

4. Premier League title of 2011 – knocking Liverpool off their perch!

United won their 19th Premier League crown in 2011 and replaced Liverpool as the most successful club in the English game. The 2011 Premier League title was Vidic’s fourth since arriving at the club in January 2006. It was also the Serbian’s first major title since taking over the reins as captain of Manchester United from Gary Neville the previous year. And Vidic arguably scored the most decisive goal of United’s season as his header against Chelsea in May 2011 proved to be winner and moved United to win a point of that coveted 19th.

5. The farewell gift to United fans!

Many say that Nemanja Vidic has never really been the same player since suffering that knee injury in 2011, but the ‘Serbinator’ made 19 appearances for United in the league and guided the club to their 20th Premier League trophy, what has proven to be his final piece of silverware in a glittering career at Old Trafford. His best performance? At the biggest stage of them all against Real Madrid in the Champions League, albeit in vain as referee Cuneyt Cakir decided to have his way.

Perhaps what sums up Vidic’s no-nonsense attitude towards defending is what United fans have been singing for the last eight years, “Nemanja oohh. Nemanja oohh. He comes from Serbia. He’ll f—ing murder ya.”

Top player, great leader, immaculate professional, Nemanja Vidic will go down in football folklore as one of the greatest ever defenders to have played the game. Good luck with your future, Vida!

Finally we end with a tribute,