Nemanja Vidić (Serbian: Немања Видић)(pronounced Ne-man-ya Vid-ich) (born October 21, 1981 in Titovo Užice, Serbia) is a Serbian footballer. He plays for the English club Manchester United in the FA Premier League, as well as the Serbia national football team.
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 Dusan, 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. He was assigned the number 15 shirt that was vacated by Brazilian midfielder José Kléberson in summer 2005. Vidić made his 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.
In the 2006/2007 season after an injury to Wes Brown, Vidić then 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 recently 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.
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.
National team
Vidić was part of the Serbian and Montenegrin national team's "Famous Four" defence, alongside Goran Gavrančić, Ivica Dragutinović, and Mladen Krstajić. The "Famous Four" defence conceded just one goal during the ten 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches. 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.
During Serbia and Montenegro's 2006 World Cup preparations in June 2006, Vidić was involved in a training ground incident with teammate Mateja Kežman[citation needed]. Following a nervy start by Kežman during an inter-squad match, which Vidić deemed to be a foul that was not given, he subsequently mowed Kežman down in retaliation by sliding from behind[citation needed]. Fortunately, Kežman's injury turned out not to be severe.
Vidić missed out on Serbia and Montenegro's opening match, through suspension from his red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina. 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.
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Full name: Немања Видић Date of birth: October 21, 1981 Place of birth: Titovo Užice, Serbia, SFR Yugoslavia Height: 1.88 m Nickname: Vida Position: Centre back
2000-2001: Spartak Subotica (loan) - 27 (6) 2001-2004: Red Star Belgrade - 67 (12) 2004-2005: Spartak Moscow - 39 (4) 2006-present: Manchester United - 34 (3)作者: wlt1110 時間: 2007-10-20 01:44 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO VIDIC...!!! 作者: hiroisme 時間: 2007-10-20 02:36 AM
happy birthday 2 him as well作者: crashersus 時間: 2007-10-21 09:56 AM
