With Rio Ferdinand officially announcing his retirement from football, here’s a look back at the great career of the former England defender, who won it all in a glittering spell with Manchester United in particular…
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Rio Ferdinand made his debut for West Ham United all the way back in 1996. Since no pictures could be traced from that game, here’s a shot of him playing for the Hammers as he became more and more of a regular for the club in 1997.
It’s not long before Ferdinand is an England regular, making his debut as a substitute against Cameroon in this game in 1997.
In an £18m move to Leeds United in 2000, Rio becomes the world’s most expensive defender at the time as he joins a star-studded squad at Elland Road.
His stay at Leeds is short-lived, however, as he then breaks his own record and becomes the world’s most expensive defender again with a controversial £34m move to Manchester United in 2002.
Less than a year later, Ferdinand lifts his first Premier League trophy after United come back from five points behind Arsenal to be crowned champions in 2003.
There is controversy the following season as Ferdinand misses a drugs test at the club’s training ground, leading to an eight-month ban from the game.
Ferdinand comes back stronger than ever, however, re-establishing himself as one of the best centre-backs in the world as he helps United to an amazing double in the 2007/08 season, which includes winning the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow.
A now-iconic picture, Ferdinand is struck with a coin thrown by a Manchester City fan after passionately celebrating a late win for Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in 2012.
Ferdinand celebrates winning the 2013 Premier League title, and scores the winning goal against Swansea City in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final home game in charge before retiring.
In the final move of his career, Ferdinand joins Queens Park Rangers after a difficult final season with United. The veteran defender made only twelve appearances for Rangers in all.