Today’s Player of the Day is the returning Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic. The Manchester United captain has been missing since December 2011 when he twisted his knee in United’s champions league tie against FC Basel. Vidic however made his return in August 2012 playing an hour in a pre season friendly against Norweigan side Valerenga.
Born 21st October 1981 in Serbia, Vidic is the current Manchester United captain and is part of the Serbia national football team. Vidic’s career started at Red Star Belgrade during the early 2000s and the defender quickly established himself helping the side to win various domestic titles and cups. In 2004 Vidic joined Russian team Spartak Moscow where it was reported that he had became the most expensive defender in the history of the Russian league. He further increased his reputation when he was part of the ‘Famous Four’ Serbian national team defence that conceded just one goal during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
Vidic signed for Man United for around £7 million in January 2006 before establishing a prominent defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand the following season and earning a reputation for his no-nonsense defending. Since making his debut in January 2006 Vidic has collected a host of honours in his United career including 3 consecutive Premier League titles (4 in total), the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA World Club Cup, three League Cup medals, as well as being included in three consecutive (4 in total including 2010-11 season) PFA Team of the Year sides from 2007 to 2009. In the 2008-09 season, he helped United to a record breaking run of 14 consecutive clean sheets and was awarded the Barclays Player of the Season. At the start of the 2010-11 season Vidic was selected as the new team captain of Manchester United and collected his second Barclays Player of the Season in 2010-11. On December 7th 2011 Vidic twisted his knee ruling him out for the rest of the 2011-12 season but recently returned to first team football in a pre season friendly in Norway. Vidic, to date, has made 243 appearances for United scoring 18 goals.
A Yugoslavian youth international, he made his senior debut on 12 October 2002 against Italy in UEFA Euro 2004 qualification. Vidic was instrumental in Serbia and Montenegro’s 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification however due to injury missed out on the finals. He was a regular of the now independant Serbian national team during the 2010 World Cup qualifying and was intrumental as Serbia finished top of their group ahead of the likes of France. However Serbia had less luck in the finals and came last in their group. Vidic has made 56 appearances at International level scoring 2 goals.
Become a fan of Vidic on Facebook by liking his Official PFA page:
http://www.facebook.com/NemanjaVidicFootball
Source: DSG
