Rio Ferdinand

Rio Gavin Ferdinand (born 7 November 1978) is an England Association football. Rio Ferdinand plays at Defender (association football) Centre back for Manchester United F.C. in the Premier League and at the international level for the England national football team. Rio Ferdinand has achieved 70 cap (football) for the English national team while being selected for three FIFA World Cup squads. Rio Ferdinand is currently the Captain (football) Vice-captain of the England national team and stand-in captain for Manchester United.

Known for Rio Ferdinand physical presence and composure on the ball, Ferdinand began Rio Ferdinand football career playing for various youth teams, finally settling at West Ham United F.C. where Rio Ferdinand progressed through the youth ranks and made Rio Ferdinand professional Premier League debut in 1996. Rio Ferdinand became a fan favourite, winning the 'Hammer of the Year award' the following season. Rio Ferdinand earned Rio Ferdinand first senior international cap in a match against Cameroon national football team in 1997, setting a record as the youngest defender to play for England at the time. Rio Ferdinand achievements and footballing potential attracted Leeds United A.F.C. and Rio Ferdinand transferred to the club for a record-breaking fee of £18 million. Rio Ferdinand spent two seasons at the club, becoming the Captain (association football) in 2001.

Rio Ferdinand joined Manchester United in July 2002 for around £30 million, breaking the transfer fee record once more. Rio Ferdinand won the Premier League, Rio Ferdinand first major club honour, in a successful first season at the club. Rio Ferdinand missed a drugs test and was banned from competition for eight months, causing Rio Ferdinand to miss half a Premier League season and the Euro 2004 international competition. Upon Rio Ferdinand return, Rio Ferdinand established himself in the Manchester United first team and received plaudits for Rio Ferdinand performances, featuring in the PFA Team of the Year three times in four years. More club success followed with another Premier League win in the FA Premier League 2006–07 and a Premier League and UEFA Champions League double the following year. Rio Ferdinand importance to the national team was underlined in March 2008 when Ferdinand captained England for the first time.

Ferdinand has two sons, Lorenz and Tate, with Rio Ferdinand fiancée Rebecca Ellison. Rio Ferdinand family is known for footballing prowess: brother Anton Ferdinand is also a centre back and former England international Les Ferdinand is Rio Ferdinand cousin. Off the pitch Rio Ferdinand is involved with music and television including the brief prank series Rio's World Cup Wind-Ups.

Early life

Formative years and education

Rio Gavin Ferdinand, born on 7 November 1978 in Peckham, London, is the son of Janice, a woman of mixed Irish and English heritage, and Julian Ferdinand, a St Lucian. Ferdinand grew up on the Friary estate in Peckham and was part of a large family. Both Rio Ferdinand parents worked to support their family, Rio Ferdinand mother as a child carer while Rio Ferdinand father was a tailor. Rio Ferdinand parents never married and they separated when Rio Ferdinand was 14 years old. However, Rio Ferdinand father remained close, moving to a nearby estate, and Rio Ferdinand was keen to stay involved in Rio Ferdinand children's lives, taking them to football training and the local parks.

Ferdinand had a good upbringing and was a happy child but Rio Ferdinand also had to learn to live without luxuries in poverty-stricken Peckham, a London borough where almost half the population is either poor or borderline poor. Violent crime was a common occurrence in the area Rio Ferdinand lived; indeed, Damilola Taylor was murdered in the vicinity. However, Rio Ferdinand parents drilled Rio Ferdinand with respectful instincts and Rio Ferdinand largely avoided the darker sides of the neighbourhood. At school, Rio Ferdinand focused on maths and revelled in the opportunity to perform before an audience, portraying Bugsy Malone in a school play. Things were not just burgeoning at club level for Ferdinand; at 16 Rio Ferdinand joined the England youth team squad to compete in their age group's UEFA European Football Championship, gaining Rio Ferdinand first experience of international competition.

Leeds United

Ferdinand joined FA Premier League football club Leeds United A.F.C. in November 2000 for Pound sterling18 million, then a United Kingdom transfer record as well as becoming the world's most expensive defender. Despite an uncomfortable start to Rio Ferdinand career at Elland Road, beginning with a 3–0 defeat at Leicester City F.C. on Rio Ferdinand debut, Ferdinand settled well and became an integral part of the Leeds team that reached the semi-final stage of the UEFA Champions League, scoring with a header in the quarter-final against Spain's Deportivo de La Coruña. Other highlights during Rio Ferdinand brief spell in Yorkshire included goals against Liverpool F.C. at Anfield and a scoring return to Upton Park. The following season, in August 2001, Rio Ferdinand became the club captain (association football) and turned in an impressive second campaign, despite United's failure to break into the top four and secure qualification for the competition they had figured in so prominently during the previous season. During the 2002 FIFA World Cup, rumours began circulating that the club were in dire financial trouble and that new manager Terry Venables would be forced to part with Rio Ferdinand star defender for a substantial amount of cash. Later that summer, Leeds accepted a bid of £29.1 million

Manchester United

On 22 July 2002, Ferdinand joined fellow Premier League side Manchester United F.C. on a five-year deal to become the most expensive United Kingdom footballer in history, the world's most expensive defender again (a title Rio Ferdinand had lost in 2001 to Lilian Thuram). The fee included a basic element in the high twenty millions, and some conditional elements, which allowed Leeds to tell their fans that they were selling Rio Ferdinand for over thirty million. Leeds United A.F.C. later took a single payment in place of all the contingent elements when they were desperate for cash during their financial crisis. The final book value of Ferdinand's contract in Manchester United's accounts was £33 million. This included agents' fees, with Leeds receiving just under £30 million. Ferdinand suffered from a lack of form at the start of Rio Ferdinand Manchester United career, particularly illustrated by Rio Ferdinand performance against Real Madrid C.F. in the Champions League and in a 1–0 defeat by Rio Ferdinand former club Leeds United A.F.C. at Elland Road.

In 2003, Rio Ferdinand failed to attend a drug test, claiming Rio Ferdinand had forgotten because Rio Ferdinand was preoccupied with moving houses and instead went shopping. The Football Association chaired by Barry Bright imposed an eight month ban from January 2004 at club and international level and a £50,000 fine, meaning Rio Ferdinand would miss the rest of the league season and some of the next along with all of 2004 European Football Championship. Manchester United appealed against the verdict and sought to draw parallels to the case of Manchester City player Christian Negouai, who was fined £2,000 for missing a test. However, FIFA president Sepp Blatter stated that such comparisons are inappropriate due to differences between the two cases. Negouai had been stuck in traffic and was willing to take the test, while Ferdinand was charged with "failure or refusal" to attend the test. Both the FA and FIFA sought to have the ban increased to 12 months (half the possible maximum). In the end, the original verdict was upheld.

Ferdinand went on to win the Premier League title with Manchester United in Rio Ferdinand first season. Rio Ferdinand has also collected a winner's medal in the 2006 Football League Cup Final, with runners-up medals in the 2003 Football League Cup Final and the 2005 FA Cup Final.

On 14 December 2005, in a game against Wigan Athletic F.C., Ferdinand scored Rio Ferdinand first goal for United, en route to a 4–0 victory. This was Rio Ferdinand first goal after more than three years at Old Trafford. Rio Ferdinand followed this up with a powerfully headed goal against West Bromwich Albion F.C.. Rio Ferdinand then scored a last minute winner against Liverpool F.C. at Old Trafford, possibly Rio Ferdinand most important Manchester United goal to date. In the corresponding fixture in the following season on 22 October 2006, Rio scored again in a 2–0 victory.

Following impressive and consistent performances in the league, Rio Ferdinand was named in the 2006-07 in English football PFA Team of the Year alongside seven of Rio Ferdinand fellow Manchester United teammates.

Ferdinand started the 2007–08 season well, Rio Ferdinand was part of a United defence that managed to keep six clean sheets in a row in the Premier League, before conceding an early goal to Aston Villa F.C. at Villa Park on 20 October 2007. It was also during this game where Ferdinand scored Rio Ferdinand first goal of the season, which was United's third goal of that game, with a left foot strike which took a very strong deflection off one of Villa's defenders. Just three days later, Ferdinand scored Rio Ferdinand first European goal for United by opening the scoring against FC Dynamo Kyiv, with a superb header. United dominated the game and won 4–2.

On 12 January 2008 Ferdinand bagged a rare Premier League goal in a 6–0 hammering of Newcastle United F.C. at Old Trafford.

In their FA Cup quarter-final match against Portsmouth F.C. on 8 March 2008 when Manchester United dominated, Ferdinand made a rare appearance as a goalkeeper, after Edwin van der Sar left the pitch with a groin injury and the replacement keeper, Tomasz Kuszczak, was sent off after conceding a penalty. Despite diving the right way, Rio Ferdinand was unable to save Sulley Muntari's spot kick, and Manchester United were eliminated from the FA Cup.

On 6 April 2008, against Middlesbrough F.C., Ferdinand limped out of the match due to a foot injury. Rio Ferdinand was rated doubtful whether Rio Ferdinand would face A.S. Roma in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg on 9 April 2008. Rio Ferdinand would play the full 90 minutes, though Rio Ferdinand received three stitches at half-time.

After United's 2–1 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League in April 2008 Ferdinand, angry at the defeat, swore at Chelsea stewards and tried to kick a wall in the tunnel, but instead kicked a female steward, Tracy Wray. Ferdinand claimed to have merely brushed her with Rio Ferdinand foot. Ferdinand said Rio Ferdinand apologised and sent the steward some flowers. However Wray disagreed and in the The Sun she showed the large bruise on her leg caused by Ferdinand 'brushing her with Rio Ferdinand foot'. Her husband also claimed that Ferdinand did not apologise or send flowers.

Despite having been linked with a move to FC Barcelona, it was announced on 16 April 2008 that, along with Michael Carrick and Wes Brown, Ferdinand had agreed to sign a new five-year contract, worth around £130,000 a week, which would keep Rio Ferdinand with United until 2013. The contract was finally signed on 15 May 2008.

On 21 May 2008, Ferdinand captained Manchester United to a 2008 UEFA Champions League Final victory versus Chelsea F.C.. Rio Ferdinand accepted the trophy together with Ryan Giggs, as Giggs was the on field captain for most of the matches during that season during Gary Neville's absence due to injury.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live Rio Ferdinand criticised FIFA's approach to tackling racism in football, stating that not enough was being done to punish those guilty of homophobic or racist abuse at matches. Regarding taunts aimed at Emile Heskey in England's 4–1 victory against Croatia in Zagreb, Ferdinand remarked:

"Croatia were fined a few thousand quid. What's that going to do? That is not going to stop people shouting racist or homophobic abuse...If things like this keep happening you have to take points off them. Then the punters will realise the team is going to be punished."

International career

At the age of 19 years and 8 days, Ferdinand earned Rio Ferdinand first full England cap as a substitute in a friendly against Cameroon national football team on 15 November 1997, making Rio Ferdinand the youngest defender to play for England at the time, a record broken in 2006 by Micah Richards. At the age of 20, Rio Ferdinand was selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup squad as a back-up defender, but was excluded from the final squad by manager Glenn Hoddle after being charged with Drunk driving. Ferdinand was selected as a first choice player at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and 2006 FIFA World Cup tournaments. John Terry replaced Ferdinand in the England side throughout Rio Ferdinand eight month ban until Rio Ferdinand return on 9 October 2004 in their FIFA World Cup qualifier against Wales national football team. Ferdinand has played ten World Cup matches for England, Rio Ferdinand was substituted before Henrik Larsson scored for Sweden national football team in the 2006 World Cup). On 25 March 2008, Ferdinand was named captain of England for the friendly against France on 26 March 2008.

The Duran Duran song "Rio (song)" has been used in football chants both for and against Ferdinand; in fact, in 2002, fan Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran's lead singer) promised to re-record one of the football chants if the team won. However, the team failed to win and the promise never had the chance to come to fruition.

Ferdinand has scored three goals for England national football team, the first in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match against Denmark national football team (although some sources credit this goal as a Thomas Sørensen own goal). The second was a near post strike that beat the Russian goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev in England's UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying against Russia national football team on 12 September 2007 at Wembley Stadium. The third on 11 October 2008 in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at home to Kazakhstan national football team. England won 5–1.

On 25 March 2008 it was announced that Rio would wear the captain's armband for Fabio Capello's second game in charge of the national team, ahead of John Terry, Steven Gerrard or David Beckham, who some believed would be named captain to mark Rio Ferdinand 100th cap for Rio Ferdinand country. An The Football Association statement suggested that the decision to name Ferdinand as captain was part of Capello's plans of rotating the captaincy before naming an official captain for September's 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

On 19 August 2008 Rio lost out in the race to be captain of England with John Terry retaining the captains armband on a permanent basis. Ferdinand was, however, named vice captain by Fabio Capello.

On 11 October 2008 Rio scored the opening goal in England's 5–1 win over Kazakhstan, a back post header in the 52nd minute. Rio Ferdinand was also named as captain for this game.

Although Ferdinand has been named in the last three England national football team FIFA World Cup squads (albeit without playing in 1998), Rio Ferdinand has never been to a UEFA European Championship due to a ban for missing a drugs test and due to England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

International goals

Honours

Club

Manchester United

- Premier League: FA Premier League 2002–03, FA Premier League 2006–07, Premier League 2007–08, Premier League 2008–09
- Football League Cup: 2006 Football League Cup Final, 2009 Football League Cup Final
- FA Community Shield: 2003 FA Community Shield, 2007 FA Community Shield, 2008 FA Community Shield
- UEFA Champions League: 2008 UEFA Champions League Final
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2008 FIFA Club World Cup Final

Individual

- PFA Team of the Year: PFA Team of the Year Premiership 5 (Leeds), PFA Team of the Year Premier League 4, PFA Team of the Year Premier League 3, PFA Team of the Year Premier League 2, PFA Team of the Year Premier League (Manchester United)
- FIFPro World XI: 2007–08