Nemanja Vidic

Book excerpt: Nemanja Vidic is one of the best defenders playing in the English Premier League today, a cult figure among Manchester United fans he has enjoyed a meteoric rise to football stardom. Born in Serbia in 1981, Vidic began playing football at the age of just 7 and was quickly spotted by local clubs. By 15 he was signed to Red Star Belgrade's youth system and by 20 he had won the Yugoslav Cup. The captain's armband soon followed and he led his Red Star team to a domestic double in 2004 -- that was to be his last season with the club as he moved into the Russian Premier League and Spartak Moscow. His outstanding play and no-nonsense style soon caught the attention of foreign clubs and in 2006 he signed for Manchester United joining Rio Ferdinand in defence to form one of the most formidable partnerships in English football. Loved by the Old Trafford faithful Vidic was short-listed for the PFA Player of the Year in 2009 and was named Manchester United fans' and players' Player of the Year.