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Nemanja Vidić

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Nemanja Vidić
Nemanja Vidić playing for Manchester United
Personal information
Full name Nemanja Vidić
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
 Manchester United
Number 15
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 December 2006

Nemanja Vidić (Serbian: Немања Видић) (pronounced Ne-mah-nyah Vee-dee-ch) (born October 21, 1981 in Titovo Užice, Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia) is a Serbian footballer. He plays for the English club Manchester United in the Premier League, as well as the Serbia national football team.

Club career

Early years

Nemanja Vidić was born into a working class family; his father Dragoljub a recently retired copper factory worker, and his mother Zora a bank clerk. Vidić took up football at 7 years of age, alongside his older brother Dušan, with local side Jedinstvo Užice. He progressed quickly, and moved to Sloboda Užice at the age of 12.

Red Star

Two and a half years later, before his 15th birthday, Red Star Belgrade signed Vidić to their youth system. Nemanja Vidić started his senior career on a season-long loan deal at Spartak Subotica in 2000. He moved back to Red Star Belgrade after the season, playing in the top-flight Serbian SuperLiga championship. He won the 2004 Serbian SuperLiga and Yugoslav Cup trophies with Red Star Belgrade, and in July 2004, he joined Russian Premier League side Spartak Moscow for € 6 million.

Manchester United

Vidić requested to leave Spartak, and he signed for Manchester United for a fee of £7.2 million on January 5, 2006.[2] He was assigned the number 15 shirt that was vacated by Brazilian midfielder José Kléberson in Summer 2005. Vidić made his home debut for Manchester United as a substitute for Ruud van Nistelrooy in the dying minutes of Manchester United's 2-1 win in the Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Blackburn Rovers on January 25, 2006.

During the 2006/2007 season, following an injury to Wes Brown; Vidić formed a solid partnership with Rio Ferdinand in the centre of defence. Vidić scored his first ever goal for Manchester United against Wigan Athletic which United went on to win 3-1. He scored his second goal in a 3-0 win over Portsmouth FC on November 4, his first goal at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium. In the early part of the 2006/07 season Vidić has been instrumental in hauling Manchester United to the top of the F.A. Premier League. After taking time to settle in last season, he has more recently shown his potential as a future world-class defender, his no-nonsense style, physical strength and immense aerial ability being his main assets. He scored a goal against S.L. Benfica during a Champions League match, canceling out Nélson Marcos's initial strike. Manchester United eventually won the game 3-1. Vidić also appeared to score the opening goal in Manchester United's FA Cup tie with Portsmouth on January 27, 2007. Vidić headed a Ryan Giggs corner across the goal line only for the referee to controversially fail to award the goal. However, he did score another goal to add to his tally at Tottenham on February 4th, 2007, giving United a 0-2 lead, in an eventual 0-4 triumph.[3]

He is now being recognised as one of the best defenders in the FA Premiership and is popular for his strength, heading ability and willingness to throw his body into any tackle.

Vidić broke his collar bone during Manchester United's game with Blackburn Rovers on 31st March 2007, and was out of action for almost a month. Vidic was rushed back from injury to face AC Milan at the San Siro on 2nd May 2007. United eventually lost the game 3-0 and bowed out of Europe 5-3 on aggregate. Despite this, Vidic put in a solid performance just 64 hours later as United took on Manchester City at the City of Manchester stadium. United won 0-1 and the Premier League title was secured a day later when Chelsea could manage only a draw in their match against Arsenal at the Emirates. [4]

Despite Vidić's injury, the Serbian was named in the 2006/07 PFA Premiership Team of the Season alongside seven of his fellow Manchester United teammates.[5]

International career

2006 FIFA World Cup

Vidić was part of the Serbian and Montenegrin national team's "Famous Four" defence,[6] alongside Mladen Krstajić, Ivica Dragutinović and Goran Gavrančić. The "Famous Four" defence conceded just one goal during the ten 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches, the best defensive record of any of the qualifying teams. Vidić played a major part in the last qualification game, against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Serbia and Montenegro won 1-0 and secured qualification, despite Vidić picking up a red card five minutes before the end.

Vidić missed out on Serbia and Montenegro's opening group stage match, through suspension from his red card in the previous qualifying game. On June 12, 2006 he injured his left knee ligaments during training and he did not play any games at the 2006 World Cup.

After the 2006 World Cup, Vidić went on to represent the national team, now independent as the Serbia national football team.

Personal

On July 15, 2006, Vidić married his girlfriend Ana Ivanović, an Economics student at the University of Belgrade. She shouldn't be confused with the Serbian Tennis Star of the same name. Together they have a son, Luka.

Honours

Team

Individual

References

  1. ^ Vida: Nickname used by his Manchester United teammates
  2. ^ Mystery surrounds Vidic fee - The Times online
  3. ^ Vidic scores as Red Devils trounce Spurs by JadranSport
  4. ^ Vidic collarbone injury confirmed by BBC
  5. ^ Ronaldo secures PFA awards double by BBC
  6. ^ Vidic completes £7m Man Utd move - BBC


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