Rio Ferdinands

Rio Gavin Ferdinand (born 7 November 1978) is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team. He has amassed 81 caps for England in total, and has been a member of three FIFA World Cup squads.

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

He joined Manchester United in July 2002 for around £30 million, breaking the transfer fee record once more. He won the Premier League, his first major club honour, in a successful first season at the club. He missed a drugs test and was banned from competition for eight months, causing him to miss half a Premier League season and the Euro 2004 international competition. Upon his return, he established himself in the Manchester United first team and received plaudits for his 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 2006–07 season and a Premier League and UEFA Champions League double the following year.

Ferdinand has three children, Lorenz, Tate and Tia, with his wife Rebecca Ellison. He was born into a footballing family: brother Anton Ferdinand is also a centre back for Sunderland and former England international striker Les Ferdinand is his cousin. Off the pitch he is involved with youth charities, film, music, and television including the prank series Rio's World Cup Wind-Ups.

Ferdinand has scored three goals for England, the first in the Second round of the 2002 World Cup match against Denmark (although some sources credit this goal as a Thomas Sørensen own goal[35]). The second was a near post strike that beat the Russian goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev in England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia 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. England won 5–1.

As of June 2010, he has 78 England caps to his name, placing him level with Ashley Cole and one short of (now retired) John Barnes among the most capped black players to have appeared for the England team. Although Ferdinand has been named in the last four England World Cup squads (albeit without playing in 1998), he has never been to a European Championship due to a ban for missing a drugs test and due to England's failure to qualify for UEFA Euro 2008. Although back and groin injury problems forced him to miss much of the 2009–10 domestic season, Ferdinand was selected to captain England at the 2010 World Cup. However, he suffered a knee ligament injury during the team's first training session in South Africa on 4 June and was subsequently ruled out of the tournament. On 19 March 2011, ahead of England's Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales, manager Fabio Capello announced that John Terry was re-instated as permanent England captain and that Ferdinand would return to his role of vice-captain.

Rio Ferdinands Best Smile

Rio Ferdinands on the Coat

Rio Ferdinand England Footballer