Nemanja Vidic today announced his retirement from football at the age of 34. We therefore felt it was a fitting moment to have a quick recap of the courageous defender’s illustrious career.
Vidic grew up during the difficult years of the Yugoslav Wars but played football for local teams before being spotted by Red Star Belgrade at the age of 15.
After impressing for Belgrade’s youth sides, Vidic was sent out on loan to Spartak Subotica in 2000.
The defender won over fans and coaches alike during his year long stint with Subotica and was jettisoned straight into the Belgrade side upon his return.
It wasn’t long before Vidic became a fans favourite and he was handed the captains armband at the age of just 21.
However his sterling performances soon attracted the interest of foreign suitors and it wasn’t long before Vidic was being linked with European powerhouses.
Ultimately the defender decided to move to Spartak Moscow in 2004 but signed off his spell with Belgrade in superb fashion by helping the club to the domestic double in his final season.
Vidic’s stay in Moscow was rather short lived and after making 39 appearances over a period of 18 months he was on the move again.
This time the bright lights of the Premier League came calling and with it a dream move to Manchester United.
The then 24-year-old slotted straight into United’s back line and within a month of joining the club he had won his first piece of silverware, helping United breeze past Blackburn to win the 2005 Carling Cup Final.
Rather touchingly Vidic gave his winner medal to Giuseppe Rossi (who was absent for the final) in recognition of the Italian’s performances in early rounds.
Success in the Capital One Cup got the ball rolling and Vidic won a further 14 trophies during his nine years at Old Trafford.
In total Vidic won five Premier League titles, three League Cups, five Community Shields, one Champions League and one Club World Cup trophy.
The Serbian’s final game for United came against Hull City at Old Trafford in May 2014, where he received a standing ovation from the entire ground after coming on as a substitute.
Vidic joined Inter Milan on a free transfer in July 2014 but was affected with the same injury problems that marred his final few years at Old Trafford.
Nevertheless the defender did manage to make 23 appearances for the Italian side, scoring one goal.
He mutually agreed to terminate his contract with Inter in mid January and despite reported interest from Europe and America he decided now was the right time to hang up his boots.
As well as having an illustrious club career, Vidic also gained 56 international caps.
He was part of the “famous four” defensive partnership with Mladen Krstajić, Ivica Dragutinović, Goran Gavrančić who only conceded one goal during Serbia and Montenegro’s qualification campaign for the 2006 World Cup.
Vidic also played a key part in helping the newly independent Serbian national team qualify for the 2010 World Cup before retiring from international duty in 2011.
