Farewell Nemanja Vidic, The Catalyst For Sir Alex Ferguson’s Last Great Manchester United Side

It’s widely agreed that Sir Alex Ferguson had three truly great sides during his rather successful 26-year tenure at Manchester United.

The first was the Eric Cantona inspired side that won the double in May 1994. The second was filled with the famous Fergie Fledglings and claimed the Treble that defined Ferguson’s United career in 1999.

The third simply wouldn’t have happened without Nemanja Vidic.

It’s easy for the 5 Premier League titles that the Serbian defender won at Old Trafford to get lost amidst the 13 that Ferguson claimed. But when Vidic was signed from Spartak Moscow on Christmas Day 2005 it genuinely looked like Manchester United’s period of dominance was at an end and wouldn’t be returning for some time.

At this point in time, Manchester United’s last Premier League triumph had come in 2002/2003. The following season Arsenal’s Invincibles had marched to the title, introducing a new relentless consistency that Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea only built upon in 2004/2005.

In fact, when Nemanja Vidic finally made his debut for Manchester United at the end of January 2006 they’d basically already surrendered the league title to Mourinho’s Chelsea. Come May they’d ultimately finish third to Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League.

But there was one particular positive that came during this period that United would benefit from exponentially in the seasons to follow. Between January and the end of that season Nemanja Vidic found his feet in the Premier League. During this period of uncertainty Vidic still won his very first medal and trophy for the club too. It would be the first of many.

In the 2006/2007 season Nemanja Vidic then came into his own. And alongside Rio Ferdinand he soon formed the most formidable defensive partnership the Premier League has ever seen. Vidic was aggressive and imposing in the air. Ferdinand was quick and a better ball-player.

It was the perfect yin and yang. So much so that he was one of the reasons why United were able to eclipse both Chelsea and Arsenal over the next 12 months to win their first title in four years.

While Manchester United’s Premier League triumph come the end of that season was built upon the goals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha, and the creativity of Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes more than the solidity of their defence, Vidic’s presence made it stronger.

That became even more apparent in the following season, when, with Ferdinand and Vidic showing the kind of rhythm and understanding that you’d usually only associate with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Manchester United started playing a brazenly attacking but sturdily defensive brand of football that was truly captivating to watch develop and unfold.

By the end of the season, Manchester United had won their second Premier League title in a row, which was then accompanied by the 2008 Champions League. Fergie’s third great Manchester United side was now etched into history.

But, while Manchester United’s antics in that season will live longer in the memory, it was in 2008/2009, when the Vidic led defence went 14 Premier League games without conceding, that proved just how monumental a talent he had become.

By May 2009 Vidic had his hands on another Premier League title. The following five seasons would yield a further two. But, while they obviously help, even without these titles Nemanja Vidic’s totalitarian style of defending would have made him a firm fans favourite. With them though they have cemented the Serbian’s legacy as arguably the club’s greatest ever defender.

[Image via Getty/Michael Regan & Getty/