WhoScored reveals the top 10 highest-rated Premier League centre-backs since 2009/10, including Nemanja Vidic and Virgil van Dijk.
Nemanja Vidic was a colossus during his eight-year spell with Manchester United.
The former Serbia international joined United from Spartak Moscow for a fee of around £7 million in 2006.
Vidic initially took time to adapt to the English game, but he would eventually form the most formidable defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand in the heart of United’s defence.
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As one of the best defenders in United’s history, Vidic enjoyed plenty of success at Old Trafford before leaving in 2014 to join Inter Milan.
Vidic’s honours at United include five Premier League titles, the Champions League and the League Cup three times. He also won Premier League Player of the Season in 2009 and 2011.
Nemanja Vidic playing against Man City
Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
Nemanja Vidic tops list for highest-rated Premier League centre-backs since 2009/10
In recent years, it has often been debated whether Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk is a better defender than Vidic.
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It’s a topic of conversation that makes most United fans laugh because many are quick to forget how good Vidic was for United.
For instance, you won’t find another centre-back who won the Premier League Player of the Year award twice.
That doesn’t change the fact that Van Dijk has been crucial to a Liverpool side that has won two Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Van Dijk’s performances have dipped significantly in the past two years, but that shouldn’t come as a surprise since the Netherlands international is slowing down at 34.
The debate over Vidic and Van Dijk has been settled as far as WhoScored is concerned, with the statistical website sharing a list of the top 10 highest-rated Premier League centre-backs since 2009/10 (including players with 100+ appearances).
Vidic tops the list with Van Dijk as runner-up, but there is no room for more than one United defender. The Serb’s impressive stats from the double-winning 2008 campaign are missing, which suggests his rating would be higher if it included all of his Premier League seasons.
Highest-rated Premier League centre-backs:
Nemanja Vidic: 7.43
Virgil van Dijk: 7.22
Laurent Koscielny: 7.21
Nicolas Otamendi: 7.21
Vincent Kompany: 7.18
Michael Dawson: 7.18
Richard Dunne: 7.18
Jan Vertonghen: 7.15
Sylvain Distin: 7.13
Brede Hangeland: 7.12
A noticeable absentee from the list is Vidic’s defensive partner, Ferdinand, but the stats didn’t include many of his seasons at United.
Settling the debate over Nemanja Vidic and Virgil van Dijk
Is Nemanja Vidic the best defender in Premier League history?
Nemanja Vidic and Virgil van Dijk ratings with WhoScored
Why Rio Ferdinand would pick Nemanja Vidic over Virgil van Dijk
Ferdinand previously stated that he would prefer to line up alongside his ex-teammate than the Liverpool star.
During an Instagram Q&A in 2020, Ferdinand said, as quoted by The Mirror: “Prime Van Dijk or prime Vidic? Oooh, good question.
“I’ve got to go with Vidic because he was my partner, man. He was my partner. He covered my back and I covered his. That was it.
“I love Van Dijk, don’t get me wrong. I love him. Best defender in the world now, definitely.
“I’d love to have seen him play in our time, seen what he was about. That would have been interesting. But top player.”
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