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Rio Ferdinand’s forgotten choice for his perfect Man Utd centre-back pairing

Originally posted on HITC | By Adnan Riaz | Last updated Dec 28, 2025 1:00 PM ET

Despite his well-known connection with Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand has said that a certain former Manchester United player would have complemented his game perfectly.

Vidic and Ferdinand formed one of the most recognisable centre-back partnerships of their generation, becoming cornerstones in both the Premier League and United’s rich history.

The respect between them is clear. Ferdinand has often spoken about how much he valued Vidic’s presence during his time at Old Trafford. Together, they played pivotal roles in some of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most successful squads.

The Serbian star made the move to United in 2006 from Spartak Moscow. Over time, he not only established himself as a mainstay in the backline but also took on the role of club captain, leading by example.

During his time at United under Sir Alex Ferguson, Vidic won five Premier League titles, three League Cups and lifted the Champions League trophy.

Rio Ferdinand rates Nemanja Vidic, but the Man Utd legend would have liked to play alongside Jaap Stam

Ferdinand was already at United before Nemanja Vidic joined, having moved over from Leeds United in 2002.

The former TNT Sports pundit made headlines when he broke the British transfer record for a second time, joining United in a £30m deal.

He arrived at Old Trafford just one season after Jaap Stam’s departure in 2001. And although he was never teammates with Stam, the defender still had high praise for him.

Ferdinand spoke about this on Manchester United’s Inside Carrington podcast and how he thought that their playing styles could work well together.

“I reckon I would’ve formed the best partnership with Jaap Stam.

“Our styles would have complemented each other. He was big, strong, aggressive, on the front foot, and I would have been able to do the niceties around him.

“That would have been a good partnership,” he stated.

Rio Ferdinand draws comparison with Paolo Maldini while praising Jaap Stam

Stam was instrumental in Manchester United’s famous treble-winning side of 1998-99, leaving a lasting impression during his time at Old Trafford.

The Dutch defender, now 53, is often mentioned among the Premier League’s top centre-backs and remains a favourite among United supporters long after his retirement.

Ferdinand also pointed out that from any era of football, Paolo Maldini would have been another ideal partner for him in defence.

But he believes pairing up with Stam would have made United incredibly difficult to break down.

“Maldini is the obvious one, but Jaap Stam, I don’t think we would have conceded many goals,” Ferdinand said.

Stam’s time at United ended suddenly in 2004 after a dispute with Ferguson led to his move to Lazio.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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