NEMANJA VIDIC

While hindsight would tell you that the £7 million Manchester United spent on Nemanja Vidic is one of the biggest bargains in Premier League history, it didn’t feel that way at first.

The Serbian centre-back joined with Patrice Evra midway through 2005-06, but it’s easy to forget his shaky start – Vidic lasted 45 minutes in an under-21 game before unimpressed coach Rene Meulensteen hauled him off. Luckily for the former Spartak Moscow man, Alex Ferguson remained patient.

It wasn’t long before Vidic earned the respect of fans and team-mates for his no-nonsense defending. “All I want is to be first to the ball and win a header or tackle,” he explained back in 2007. “I don’t think about getting hurt. I do what I have to do and I only want the ball.” Getting an occasional boot to the chops was a small price to pay.

Vidic’s partnership with Rio Ferdinand will go down as one of the greatest in Premier League history, let alone at Old Trafford, and led to five league titles, three League Cups and one Champions League in his nine-and-a-half seasons at United. Vidic was crowned player of the year by fans and team-mates, and by the Premier League twice.

The Serb succeeded Gary Neville as captain a few seasons into his career with the Red Devils, and was arguably the world’s best in his role for a while. Whenever United sign a new defender, Vidic is held up as the standard-bearer – but sadly for suffering supporters, no one has come close to him.

An emotional Vidic said farewell to Manchester United at the end of the 2013-14 campaign after making 300 outings, with his name ringing around the Stretford End. What all those fans would give to have a defender of his quality marshalling the backline now. Scott Patterson