After establishing himself atRed Star Belgrade during the early 2000s, Vidić moved toSpartak Moscow in the summer of 2004. He completed a £7 million transfer toManchester United in January 2006, where he established a formidable defensive partnership withRio Ferdinand.[6] Vidić spent eight years at United, during which time he won fivePremier League titles, threeFootball League Cups, fiveFA Community Shields, theFIFA Club World Cup and theUEFA Champions League. He was appointed club captain in 2010, a position he held for four years until his departure.[7] In 2014, Vidić joinedSerie A clubInter Milan on a free transfer. He mainly featured as a rotational player for two seasons before retiring in January 2016 due to injury problems.[8][9]
Vidić was born to Dragoljub, a now-retired copper factory worker, and Zora, a bank clerk. Vidić took up football at six years of age, alongside his older brother Dušan, with local sideJedinstvo Užice. He progressed quickly, and moved toSloboda Užice at the age of 12.[10][15]
Two-and-a-half years after signing for Sloboda Užice, before his 15th birthday,Red Star Belgrade signed Vidić to their youth system. He started his senior career on a season-longloan deal atSpartak Subotica in 2000. He moved back to Red Star after the loan deal ended, playing regularly in the top-flightYugoslav League with coachZoran Filipović. He won the 2001–02Yugoslav Cup with Red Star.[16] Vidić quickly gained the captain's armband, and during his three years as captain, he scored 12 goals in 67 matches and ended his Red Star career on a high note by leading the club to a domestic double. He won the 2004 Serbia and Montenegro League andSerbia and Montenegro Cup trophies with Red Star and, in July 2004, he joinedRussian Premier League sideSpartak Moscow. The details of the transfer were not revealed, although it was reported that Vidić became the most expensive defender in the history of the Russian Premier League.[17]
After playing two seasons forSpartak Moscow, Vidić signed forManchester United for a fee of around £7 million on 25 December 2005[18] and joined the club on 5 January 2006 after hiswork permit was granted.[19] This was two and a half years after Manchester United's reported interest in him began.[20] On this occasion, United beat out stiff competition for Vidić's signature, as his transfer toFiorentina in Italy had already been agreed with the club's Sporting Director,Pantaleo Corvino. Since Fiorentina had to wait in order to complete the signing due to not having any free non-EU spots on its roster at the time, United stepped in and hijacked the transfer.[21] He was assigned the number 15 shirt and on 25 January 2006, he made his debut for United as a substitute forRuud van Nistelrooy in the dying minutes of a 2–1 win in theLeague Cup semi-final second leg againstBlackburn Rovers.[22] On 26 February 2006, Vidić won his first trophy with United, coming on in the 83rd minute forWes Brown in the2006 League Cup final win againstWigan Athletic.[23] Vidić received a medal for his appearance in the final, but later gave it to team-mateGiuseppe Rossi in recognition of Rossi's contributions in the earlier rounds of the competition.[24]
During the2006–07 Premier League season, Vidić formed a partnership withRio Ferdinand in the centre of defence, which has since become one of the most prominent partnerships in European football, and became an established first team player, which he remained for the rest of his time at United.[25] In his first full season playing for Manchester United, he made 25 appearances in the Premier League and ended the season winning his first league medal.[26][27]
Vidić scored his first ever goal for United on 14 October 2006 against Wigan Athletic in the team's 1–3 victory.[28] He scored his second goal in a 3–0 win overPortsmouth on 4 November, his first goal at United'sOld Trafford stadium.[29] He scored his firstChampions League goal for Manchester United againstBenfica on 6 December in the Group Stage, a match which United won 3–1.[30]
Vidić gettingsent off in a Premier League match against Liverpool at Old Trafford on 14 March 2009
During the2008–09 season, Vidić was a pivotal part of the United defence in the absence of a number of other defenders during various parts of the season. He started every match in the domestic league, with United going on a record run of 14 consecutiveclean sheets inPremier League matches.[35][36] Towards the end of the 2008–09 season, Vidić was shortlisted for thePFA Player of the Year award, along with four other United players; he was considered the favourite to receive the accolade, although it was later awarded to his team-mateRyan Giggs.[37] Vidić was later named as the Manchester United Fans' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year, succeedingCristiano Ronaldo, who won both awards in2007–08.[38] Vidić won the Premier League Player of the Season for the first time.[5] During the League Cup final, Vidić was deployed at right-back when he replacedJohn O'Shea.[39]
On 25 October 2009, Vidić was again sent off againstLiverpool in a 2–0 defeat, marking the third consecutive game against theirfiercest rivals in which he had been shown a red card. On 21 March 2010, however, he managed to play a full 90 minutes in a 2–1 win against Liverpool at Old Trafford and again on 19 September 2010, this time in a 3–2 victory.[40]
On 23 July 2010, it was reported that Vidić had extended his contract with Manchester United by agreeing to a new long-term contract, ending long-running speculation of a move toReal Madrid.[41] The new four-year contract was signed on 20 August.[42] Vidić scored his first goal of the season on 11 September away toEverton to put his side 1–2 up, the game ending with a dramatic finish, with the final score 3–3.[43] After captaining Manchester United for the first five matches of the2010–11 season, managerSir Alex Ferguson later confirmed that Vidić had taken over fromGary Neville as team and club captain on a permanent basis. On 30 October, Vidić scored his first home goal of the season in a 2–0 league win againstTottenham Hotspur,[44] the 1,000th to be scored atOld Trafford in thePremier League. On 13 November 2010, Vidić scored his third goal of the season in a 2–2 away draw againstAston Villa in the 85th minute to grab United a point from a 2–0 deficit.[45]
On 1 February, Vidić scored againstAston Villa at Old Trafford with a powerful drive inside the penalty area as United won 3–1.[46] On 1 March 2011, Vidić was sent off in stoppage time in an intense match againstChelsea for a foul onRamires. Chelsea won 2–1.[47] Vidić got his revenge on 8 May, when he scored against Chelsea to end their title aspirations in a 2–1 victory, which also propelled United toward a record-breaking 19th Premier league title, a feat which was completed the following week atBlackburn Rovers. Vidić won the Premier League Player of the Season for his second and last time.[5]
In August 2011, Vidić started the season opening game, the2011 FA Community Shield atWembley Stadium. He was taken off at half-time, however, along with partnerRio Ferdinand as United trailed 2–0 toManchester City. In the second half, United turned the game around and won 3–2. Vidić went on to lift the Shield as the captain, claiming his fourth Community Shield medal of his career. A week later, he started in Manchester United's opening Premier League fixture of the season atWest Bromwich Albion, but was taken off during the second half with a calf injury. After the match, it was initially thought that Vidić would only miss a couple of weeks. A further diagnosis, however, found the injury to be worse than first feared, sidelining him for five weeks. He missed the wins againstTottenham Hotspur,Arsenal,Bolton Wanderers,Chelsea, and the 1–1 draw againstStoke City.[48] He also missed the first twoUEFA Champions League games of the season againstBenfica andBasel, both ending in draws.
After additionally missing the 2–0 home win againstNorwich City on 1 October 2011, SirAlex Ferguson indicated that he hoped Vidić would be back for the match againstLiverpool atAnfield on 15 October 2011. He did not make the match at Anfield, but returned in the following game in the Champions League againstOțelul Galați. United won the game 2–0. Vidić, however, was sent off midway through the second half for a high challenge in what was arguably a harsh decision.[49] After the match, Ferguson said he could see why the referee gave the decision and that the club would not appeal, meaning Vidić had to serve a European suspension.[50]
After missing theManchester Derby the following weekend, which Manchester United heavily lost 6–1 to Manchester City, Vidić played his first full 90 minutes of the season againstAldershot Town in a fourth round League Cup tie, which United won 3–0. He made his return to Premier League action atGoodison Park in a 0–1 win againstEverton. In the next fourPremier League matches, he played a big part in winning and keeping clean sheets againstSunderland (1–0) at Old Trafford andSwansea City (0–1) at theLiberty Stadium. There was nothing to be done, however, for conceding a goal from a penalty kick caused by a controversial Rio Ferdinand tackle at home againstNewcastle United in a 1–1 draw. Nevertheless, the skipper took his side to another clean sheet atVilla Park in a 0–1 win againstAston Villa withPhil Jones scoring the only goal. Alex Ferguson rested Vidić at Old Trafford in a shocking 2–1 League Cup quarter-final defeat againstCrystal Palace.
On 7 December 2011, Vidić twisted his knee during United's Champions League clash at Basel and left the field on a stretcher. Ferguson later confirmed that he would miss the rest of the season.[51]
Vidić returned to first-team action on 20 August 2012 in a 0–1 away defeat to Everton. On 25 August 2012, in a home game againstFulham, he scored an own goal in the 64th minute. A cross was played into the box from the left-hand side that goalkeeperDavid de Gea came for and tried to punch, resulting in the Spaniard becoming sandwiched between Vidić andMladen Petrić; the ball came off his heel and bounced into the goal.
On 25 September 2012, Vidić was ruled out for eight weeks due to another knee injury. He was expected to return for United's game againstCFR Cluj in the Champions League on 5 December 2012. He was ruled out of this game, however, and the next Premier League game against Manchester City. He eventually managed to make a return from injury, coming on as a 68th-minute substitute forRio Ferdinand againstSunderland on 15 December. On 13 January 2013, he scored from aPatrice Evra header, which deflected over his head in a home game againstLiverpool. Vidić managed to make 22 league appearances for the Red Devils, scoring one goal, as the club won its 13th Premier League title, finishing 11 points over incumbents Manchester City.
On 7 February 2014, Vidić announced that he would be leaving Manchester United at the end of the2013–14 season when his contract expires. Vidić stated: "I'm not considering staying in England as the only club I ever wanted to play for here is Manchester United".[52]
On 16 March, Vidić received his second yellow card and was subsequently sent off on 77 minutes in a 3–0 home defeat againstLiverpool.[53] Vidić's expulsion totaled to four red cards against Liverpool during his career at Manchester United, more than any other player against an opponent in the history of thePremier League.[54]
On 1 April, Vidić scored the opening goal in Manchester United's 1–1Champions League quarter-final first leg draw againstBayern Munich.[55] United were eventually knocked out by a 4–2 aggregate scoreline.[56]
He played his last home match for Manchester United on 6 May againstHull City, in which he received three standing ovations: one during a pre-match presentation for him by SirBobby Charlton, the second when he came on as a substitute forPhil Jones, and the third for his first touch of the game.[57]
In 2014,Inter Milan announced that Vidić would be joining them at the end of his contract in July 2014.[58] He made his debut for Inter on 30 July 2014, playing against his former team, Manchester United, in theInternational Champions Cup; he scored in the penalty shoot-out, but Inter lost the match. In his competitive debut, a goalless draw atTorino on 31 August, he conceded a penalty by foulingFabio Quagliarella and was sent off for dissent after sarcastically applauding the referee in added time.[59] On 18 September, Vidić was selected man of the match after his performance against Ukrainian sideDnipro Dnipropetrovsk where Inter won 1–0 inKyiv thanks to a goal fromDanilo D'Ambrosio.[60] Three days later, in week three of2014–15 Serie A, he made an error that allowedFranco Vázquez to score the only goal for Palermo in a 1–1 draw atStadio Renzo Barbera.[61]
FollowingWalter Mazzarri's departure as head coach, the returningRoberto Mancini relegated Vidić to the bench in favor of younger defendersAndrea Ranocchia andJuan Jesus.[62] On 11 January 2015, he played his first game in two months in a 3–1 win overGenoa, where he scored his first goal for Inter with a header in the 88th minute.[63] A string of injuries for Inter's defence, and good performances from Vidić, made him re-establish himself as a first team player.On 18 January 2016, his contract with Inter Milan was ended by mutual consent.[64] 11 days later, on 29 January, the defender announced his retirement from the game with immediate effect.[65]
Vidić was part ofSerbia and Montenegro's "Famous Four" defence,[12] alongsideMladen Krstajić,Ivica Dragutinović andGoran Gavrančić, that conceded just one goal during the ten2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, setting a new record for the fewest goals conceded. Vidić played a major part in the last qualification match, againstBosnia and Herzegovina, in which Serbia and Montenegro won 1–0 and secured qualification. However, Vidić was given ared card five minutes before the end.[10] Vidić missed out on Serbia and Montenegro's opening group stage match against theNetherlands through suspension from his previous red card.[67] On 12 June 2006, he injured his left kneeligament during training, thus did not participate in any games at the2006 World Cup.[68]
After the World Cup, Vidić went on to represent the independentSerbia national team. He was a regular player during2010 World Cup qualifying when fit, leading Serbia to finish top of their group behindFrance andRomania, with the best defensive record of all the teams participating in the group. Serbia had less luck at the2010 FIFA World Cup, and came in last place inGroup D. In a match againstGermany in the Group Stage of the World Cup, Vidić gave away a penalty in the second half while Serbia were leading 1–0. However,Lukas Podolski's kick was successfully blocked by goalkeeperVladimir Stojković.[citation needed]
On 11 October 2011, Vidić missed a decisive penalty againstSlovenia.[citation needed] On 24 October 2011, he announced his retirement from the Serbia national team due to negative comments from fans about his performances in the national shirt.[13][14]
Described byDavid Pleat ofThe Guardian as a "no-nonsense" defender, Vidić has been labelled as a "tough"centre-back, who was known for his physical challenges.[69] He was considered to be one of the world's best centre-backs in his prime due to his defensive consistency and awareness, as well as his strength, leadership, and ability in the air, which made him a goal threat onset pieces. As such, he formed an effective and successful defensive partnership with a more mobile and technical defender such asRio Ferdinand during their time together at Manchester United.[70][71][72][73] Unlike Ferdinand, however, his playing style focussed primarily on the defensive aspect of the game, rather than attempting to carry the ball forward or play out from the back.[74] He was also praised for his aggressive defensive style by his Manchester United team-mates, and was highly regarded in the media for his on-the-pitch bravery throughout his career.[75][76] As a consequence, he enjoyed a cult status among the United faithful,[77][78] and was often compared to former Manchester United defenderSteve Bruce, who had similar characteristics.[70] Although primarily a centre-back, Vidić was also capable of playing as a makeshiftright-back on occasion, as was the case when he replacedO'Shea in the 2009 League Cup Final.[39] Although his preferred role was as part of a central defensive pairing in a back four, he was also capable of playing in a three-man defensive line on occasion.[79] Pace being his major weakness, especially towards the end of his career, was compensated by his elite positioning and decision-making.[80][81]
Commenting, upon the player's retirement, on Nemanja's physical fearlessness, former Manchester United team mateRobin van Persie declared that "Nemanja puts his head where other players are scared to put their feet."[82]
On 17 July 2005, Vidić married Ana Ivanović, an economics student at theUniversity of Belgrade. They have three sons named Luka, Stefan, and Petar.[83][84]
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