Total Appearances: 319 Years Active: 2002-2014 Was He Any Good? Rio Ferdinand struck up an excellent partnership with Nemanja Vidic when the Serbian arrived at United in 2006, and at a time the pair were considered perhaps the best central defensive pairing in the world. Whilst Vidic was the destroyer, former West Ham and Leeds man Ferdinand was the elegant, pacey partner. His £30 million move to United from Elland Road in 2002 made him the most expensive British player ever at the time, and while the fee was considered a huge investment in those days, Rio more than repaid the money with 12 years of great service.