Kevin Davies: Nemanja Vidic Would Refuse to Shake My Hand After I’d Tackle Him…He’d Take it Personally

He was one of the most imposing strikers in the history of the Premier League era, winning aerial duels week-in, week-out for Bolton Wanderers during Big Sam’s memorable reign.

And now Kevin Davies has been taking a stroll down memory lane as the newly-retired forward settles into his pipe and slippers.

And some of his comments on battles with former opponents might fascinate some fans of Manchester United.

In the latest edition of FourFourTwo, Davies has commented on how he quite enjoyed the mutual respect he and someone like John Terry shared when they played against one another, because there was no ill-feeling or malice afterwards.

But he takes absolutely no pleasure at all away from playing against the likes of Gerard Pique or Nemaja Vidic.

Davies simply says that he Pique was too young for him to take much joy out of his performance, admitting to a question from a reader: “He was young then.

“You know in the first challenge or two if you have the beating of them in the air and I felt like I had the better of him.

“He doesn’t have to defend that much now for Barcelona, but he’s a good player.”

But there are no such pleasantries reserved for Vidic, who is regarded by many Man Utd fans as one of their best centre-backs in the modern era.

Davies continues:

“Someone like Nemanja Vidic, you’d tackle them and they wouldn’t shake your hand because they thought it was a person insult. But it’s a physical game. Nowadays it’s going a bit soft.”

So there you have it. Nemaja Vidic can be a bit moody after you elbow and kick him for 90 minutes. Who’d have thought it?

Davies hung up his boots in the summer, finishing his career with a two-year stint at Preston North End, after leaving Bolton.