Nemanja Vidic

50 Top Soccer Player their trade today, based on a combination of current form, potential and overall ability.  Ranking  determined by a panel of contributors to ESPN's soccer.

Nemanja Vidic         Rank Player 19

Profile
Birth name                   Nemanja Vidić
Birth date                    October 21, 1981
Birth place                   Titovo Užice, SFR Yugoslavia
Height                         1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position           Centre back/Defender
National team              Serbia (retired)
Current club                Manchester United
Joined MU                  January, 5 2006
Number                     15


Biography
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011. After establishing himself at Red Star Belgrade during the early 2000s, Vidić moved to Spartak Moscow in the summer of 2004. 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. He would later sign for Man United for around £7m in January 5, 2006.

Vidić has collected a host of honours in his United career including 3 consecutive Premier League titles (4 titles 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. He also collected both the club's Fans' and Players' Player of the Year awards. At the start of the 2010–11 season Vidić was selected as the new team captain of Manchester United.  He collected his second Barclays Player of the Season in 2010-11.


Scouting thumbnail
Powerhouse central defender who owns the box with his aerial ability, both defensively and on offensive set pieces. No-nonsense enforcer, but can be vulnerable to pacy forwards with strong dribbling skills.
Tall, athletic and solid as a rock, Nemanja Vidic is uncompromising in the tackle and formidable in the air.