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Former Man Utd star Nemanja Vidic plotting managerial career

Nemanja Vidic holds the Premier League trophy, Manchester United v Swansea City, 12 May 2013, champions
Image: Nemanja Vidic has confirmed that he plans to step into management after retiring in January

Nemanja Vidic is looking to build a career in management after ending his playing career earlier this year.

The Serbian, who spent eight years at Manchester United winning the Champions League and five Premier League titles, hung up his boots in January after persistent injury problems.

The 34-year-old is planning for the future and it hoping to forge a successful career as a manager.

He told MUTV: "It wasn't like it just came to me and I said I didn't want to play football any more. It was down to a lot of injuries I had in recent years.

"That's one of the reasons I left United because I felt I could no longer perform at the level I wanted to perform at in the league I played in for so many years."

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Vidic arrived at Old Trafford from Spartak Moscow in 2006 and was was named captain in 2010.

The centre-back ended his career in Italy, after making the switch to Inter Milan in the summer of 2014 and played 28 times.

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"It was a difficult decision in terms of knowing I'd played football all my life and I'm still only 34, but I knew my back couldn't take it," he said. "I believe my back can handle the bench though! I would like to be a manger.

"That's what I started preparing myself for a few years back. I would like to learn and visit some good managers and coaches and make the best of that for the next couple of years and after that try to find a club and start my career."

Inter Milan's Nemanja Vidic
Image: Vidic finished his career at Inter Milan

Vidic still follows Manchester United's results and also does ambassadorial work for the club.

Despite being in a race for fourth spot with Manchester City, Vidic feels the Red Devils are going in the right direction.

"United are going through a transition but we hope there are good signs with the young players who have come through the academy," he said.

"We see Jesse Lingard, Martial, Rashford - they're players with ability, energy, speed and determination to work hard and that's what Manchester United has always been about in recent years."

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