Nemanja Vidic set for Old Trafford swansong

Nemanja Vidic

Manchester United Captain Nemanja Vidic will play his final match in front of the Old Trafford faithful when the team takes on Hull City later tonight.

The 8-and-a-half year servant of the Red Devils has been an immense figure at the back and has been described by many as United’s ‘Rock’.

Signed from Red Star Belgrade on Christmas Day in 2005, Vidic, then a widely unknown individual in football, developed into one of the game’s best defenders with the Premier League Champions. His fruitful tenure at the club has seen him win a host of individual and team accolades which includes a victory in the UEFA Champions League Final in 2008 and earning a spot in the FIFA FIFpro World XI for the 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 season.

“I have no regrets” ,said the Serbian International. “I’ve given this club 100 per cent and my time at this club will always rank as the best part of my career.

“It has been a great eight years – or a great seven years because at the moment we are not doing so well!

“I never considered staying in England as the only club I ever wanted to play for in this country is United and I have been lucky enough to be part of this club for so many years. I’ve got so many great memories. I never could have imagined winning 15 trophies, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

“I’ve played for the greatest manager [Sir Alex Ferguson] and I have learned a lot, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well.

“Manchester United make you feel part of the family. It has been a great experience for me.

“I have developed as a man at this club.

“Manchester United make you feel part of the family. It has been a great experience for me and my family.”

When asked about his favourite Memory since joining the club, Vidic undoubtedly responded, “The Champions League final in 2008 [when United beat Chelsea on penalties].

“You don’t win the Champions League every year. The club has only won it three times and I was lucky to be part of one of those teams.

“And we won it Moscow, where I played for Spartak for 18 months. I came back to the stadium to lift the trophy and that’s the greatest memory I have. I will certainly never forget that fantastic night, memories that will live with me and the fans forever.”

Teammate Patrice Evra, who joined Manchester United at the same time as Vidic lauded the 32-year-old: “When you see a player like Nemanja Vidic is leaving this club you feel really sad.

“I call him the rock. I am lucky to have played alongside him, for me he was a great centre-back.”

The Frenchman recalled his early days with Vidic at the club saying: “It was so hard and we were so poor. (Reserve team coach) Rene (Meulensteen) was the manager and he substituted us both.

“We were talking together in the dressing room after and saying: ‘Oh my God, why have we come to Manchester United?! We should go quickly back to our clubs!’. It was a difficult moment, but we stuck together.

Vidic, set for his 299th appearance against Hull, will be joining Italian giants Inter Milan in the summer.

“We’ve trained together and we’ve won the same trophies so losing Vida is painful.” said Evra.