Nemanja Vidic enjoyed his best season yet in a United shirt during 2008/09, a fact not lost on his team-mates, who voted the towering Serbian defender the players' player of the year at the Reds' end-of-season awards.

He was also the fans' choice, picking up the coveted Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award.

The achievements were richly deserved and came at the end of a campaign in which Vidic helped the Reds to an 18th league title, the FIFA Club World Cup and the Carling Cup.

Tall, athletic and solid as a rock, Vida is uncompromising in the tackle and

formidable in the air. He began his career with boyhood club Red Star Belgrade, joining their youth programme at 14. His first-team debut didn't arrive until 2001 but he went on to make 22 appearances in his first season.

He eventually ended his stay with Red Star by leading them to Serbia's domestic league and cup double before switching to Russian outfit Spartak Moscow in August 2004. Just 39 games and four goals later, United came calling.

The Reds announced his signing on Christmas Day, 2005. He hadn’t played for two months as the Russian season had recently ended, so it took time for his