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Nemanja Vidic's Bone-Crunching Challenge On Kyle Walker Will Always Be Best In Premier League History

Nemanja Vidic's Bone-Crunching Challenge On Kyle Walker Will Always Be Best In Premier League History

They don't make defenders like this anymore, do they?

Daniel Marland

Daniel Marland

Nemanja Vidic's crunching challenge on Kyle Walker remains one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history.

Manchester United took on Tottenham Hotspur in 2013 and found themselves 2-1 down early in the second half.

Realising the tempo needed to be upped, club captain Vidic decided to smash into Walker out on the wing.

A loose ball bounces to the edge of the box and both players go for it as fast as possible.

Walker is still one of the league's fastest players and reached the ball quicker - but he didn't bargain on Vidic's massive lunge.

The Serbian went to ground and clattered into Walker, who flipped high into the air before crashing down to the White Hart Lane turf.

It was a fair tackle however and it means Vidic could dust himself off and continue the game with no punishment.

Walker did remain grounded for a few seconds. Anyone would, it is some hit.

Fans have reacted to the challenge and they think it's the kind of defending modern football is lacking.

One commented: "This has to be up there as the best tackle in football history."

Another said: "I could watch this tackle on repeat all day."

A third put: "Something so satisfying about this tackle, how they collide."

While someone tweeted: "Proper mentality from a United legend. Love Vida."

Image
Alamy

The tackle has become so synonymous with Vidic's no-nonsense image, he was even asked about it after retiring.

He told FourFourTwo in 2016: "I don't remember all of my tackles - I was sometimes playing with concussion - but I remember that one.

"Kyle went honestly for the ball and so did I. It's why I like that challenge: it doesn't matter who won; what mattered is that we both went for the ball. 

"I love that about English football and hope it never changes."

Vidic won five Premier League titles at United, in addition to three League Cups and the Champions League.

He moved on to Inter Milan in 2014 and the Red Devils haven't had a defender as good as him since.

Featured Image Credit: Premier League

Topics: Manchester United, Nemanja Vidic, Tottenham Hotspur, Kyle Walker, Premier League

Daniel Marland
Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and has previous experience with Manchester United. He's spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Bryan Robson, Peter Crouch and WWE legend The Undertaker. Was in the crowd for England 2-0 Germany and thinks life may have peaked.

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@DanMarland_