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Compilation Shows Just How Great A Partnership Nemanja Vidic And Rio Ferdinand Were

Compilation Shows Just How Great A Partnership Nemanja Vidic And Rio Ferdinand Were

It's easy to see why Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were voted the best defensive duo in Premier League history.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are considered one of the great defensive partnerships of modern football, and it's really easy to see why.

The two Manchester United stars complimented each other perfectly, with Ferdinand's speed and ability to play out from the back paired with Vidic's aerial ability and desire to put his body on the line, no matter what.

During their spell at Old Trafford together they won the Premier League title five times as Sir Alex Ferguson's side dominated English football.

But it wasn't just at home the two impressed. In Europe United also had a very good spell, winning the Champions League and twice coming close, losing to Pep Guardiola's team in both finals.

A compilation of their highlights from Europe's number one club competition was posted on social media and it really shows their brilliance.

Highlights in the video include games against Barca as the two incredible sides of the time became extremely well acquainted with each other.

As well as the two finals, in Rome and Wembley, United met the Catalan giants in the semi final in 2008, with Paul Scholes rocket the difference between the two sides.

Despite losing both finals, Ferdinand and Vidic still produced several moments of excellent defending in the two games.

Scholes long range strike was the difference but Rio and Vidic did a lot of defending late on in the tie. Image: PA Images
Scholes long range strike was the difference but Rio and Vidic did a lot of defending late on in the tie. Image: PA Images

The partnership between the pair was so good that they have previously been voted as the best defensive partnership in Premier League history.

They beat the likes of John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, Kolo Toure and Sol Campbell and Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia to take the title.

Vidic also beat his partner in the semi-final on his way to being named the league's best defender ever, knocking off Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk in the final.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would love the benefit of having two centre backs as good as Rio and Vidic were in their prime.

The United boss is reportedly on the prowl for a new defender in the summer transfer window, despite recent better form from Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.

United are reportedly interested in adding more pace to the back line whilst Solskjaer also wants a left footed defender.

Reports claim that Villarreal's Pau Torres could be the man, with Real Madrid apparently annoyed that the Premier League side have jumped ahead of them in the queue.

If a new signing can create a partnership for the ages with Maguire then the Red Devils would be in a much better place to create the kind of success they had when Ferdinand and Vidic were at the back!

Featured Image Credit: Twitter - @championsleague

Topics: Football, Manchester United, Nemanja Vidic, Premier League, Rio Ferdinand, Champions League