Nemanja Vidic

Nemanja Vidic is a retired Serbian footballer, who famously played for Manchester United as well as representing his national team for nine years.

Before his success in English club football and internationally, he was signed to Red Star Belgrade’s youth system aged just 14, before making his professional debut in 2000 for Spartak Subotica. He moved back to Red Star and wore the captain’s armband for three years before joining the Spartak Moscow in 2004. He is reportedly the most expensive defender in Russian Premier League history.

Widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his time, Nemanja Vidic first came into the public eye as a part of the ‘famous four’ in the run up to the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The Serbian team only conceded one goal in the entire qualifying campaign, which ultimately led to the £7 million signing of Nemanja Vidic to Manchester United in the same year. The following season he formed a strong defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand, and went on to collect five Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League win in his time with the club. He became captain of the team in 2010, and continued the captaincy for three seasons.

He retired in 2014, after a short stint playing for Italian team Inter Milan. He has three sons with his wife, and has hinted he’d like to become a manager.