“I hope so... touch wood. I always said that I”
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Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back, and was a television pundit for TNT Sports, for ten years. He played 81 times for the England national team between 1997 and 2011, and was a member of three FIFA World Cup squads. He is one of the most decorated English footballers of all time, regarded by many as one of England's greatest ever defenders.
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sports · English former footballer and pundit (born 1978) · association football player · autobiographer · film producer · also Rio Ferdinand, Rio Gavin Ferdinand, Ferdinand
Born 7 November 1978 · Q483417
92 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 17 entries
“I wake up more and more now thinking that I”
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“through my head a little bit beforehand - just different scenarios that get me into the right frame of mind: winning the first header, making your first tackle, making your first pass, reading the first situation. You see the forward you”
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“s finals. What of his own future?”
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“I always as a kid wanted to do something different, I'd get bored very easily – even playing football or hanging around with my mates. So travelling away from home, meeting new people. ... I enjoyed it.”
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“Croatia were fined a few thousand quid. What”
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Published video “Rio Ferdinand Urges Man United To Sign Myles Lewis-Skelly #football #manchesterunited”.
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Published video “Man United Initiation Song Revealed! #football #music #edsheeran”.
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Published video “Djed Spence To Inter Milan ⚫️🔵 OFFICIAL #football #transfernews”.
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Published video “Bruno and De Bruyne Compared by Youri Tielemans #football #manchesterunited”.
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Published video “Tielemans Hopes For His Debut Man Utd Season #football #manchesterunited”.
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Published video “‘Sky’s The Limit’ for Kobbie Mainoo 🤩 #football #manchesterunited”.
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Published video “Big Personalities and Positive Egos in Man United Squad: Belgium captain Youri Tielemans #football”.
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Published video “What Makes Elite Number 6 Like Vitinha or Rodri? #football #manchesterunited”.
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Published video “Playing Next To Andrey Santos In Man Utd Midfield #football #manchesterunited”.
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Published video “Telling Bruno Fernandes To Shoot! Tielemans & Man Utd’s Magnifico #football #manchesterunited”.
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Public attention spiked: 8,965 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.4× the usual 2,669, with 0 article edits.
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2025· 3 entries
The Guardian: Football Daily | Mic drop: Rio Ferdinand leaves TNT Sports for ‘new chapter’
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In 2025, Ferdinand and his family relocated to Dubai, citing better educational standards for his children and the quality of UAE lifestyle.
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Ferdinand and his family relocated to Dubai, citing better educational standards for his children and the quality of UAE lifestyle
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2024· 2 entries
The Guardian: Rio Ferdinand: ‘Guidance was my mum’s passion, it’s her legacy as well’
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The Guardian: ‘I chose football over ballet’: Rio Ferdinand
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2023· 4 entries
The Guardian: Man jailed for six months after racially abusing Rio Ferdinand at football match
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The Guardian: Fan convicted for racist abuse of Rio Ferdinand during match at Molineux
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Won Premier League Hall of Fame (2023).
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Won: Premier League Hall of Fame with Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons (Panel choice) (2023).
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2022· 4 entries
The Guardian: Rio Ferdinand: ‘Racism will be in players’ minds in high-pressure World Cup situations’
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Won: Honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) from London South Bank University with Orders and special awards (March 2022).
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The Guardian: Rio Ferdinand given OBE and Damian Lewis CBE in Queen’s birthday honours list
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A charity which works with young people and aids community development
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2021· 1 entry
The Guardian: 'I've seen family members disintegrate': Rio Ferdinand speaks to MPs about online abuse – video
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2018· 2 entries
Won: BAFTA Award for Best Single Documentary with Orders and special awards (2018).
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“My name was out there in the public arena for people to make assumptions on why I missed a drugs test. That stigma is something that may never go away. I go out there and play for the fans and for my family and for myself and to have that taken away from me in such a way was disheartening and something that really did shock me. I'm man enough to admit that I did cry.”
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2016· 1 entry
Won: English Football Hall of Fame with Fantasy Teams of the 20 Seasons (Panel choice) (2016).
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2015· 1 entry
Joined BT Sport (now TNT Sports) as a pundit for their coverage of the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League
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2014· 3 entries
And he subsequently joined Queens Park Rangers where he played for just one season before being released from the club as a result of their relegation from the Premier League
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Played for Queens Park Rangers F.C. (2014–2015) — 11 appearances, 0 goals.
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Joined QPR in 2014.
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2013· 2 entries
Won: Premier League with Manchester United (2012–13).
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Won award: PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2012–13).
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2011· 3 entries
Won the English FA Community Shield with Manchester United (2011).
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Won: FA Community Shield with Manchester United (2011).
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Won: Premier League with Manchester United (2010–11).
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2010· 2 entries
Won award: London Youth Games Hall of Fame (2010).
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Ferdinand unsuccessfully sued the Sunday Mirror to prevent the publication of a story about an alleged affair with Carly Storey
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2009· 3 entries
Won: Premier League with Manchester United (2008–09).
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Won award: PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2008–09).
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Won: Football League Cup with Manchester United (2008–09).
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2008· 9 entries
Won the English FA Community Shield with Manchester United (2008).
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Won award: FIFPro World XI (2007–08).
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Won: Premier League with Manchester United (2007–08).
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Won: FA Community Shield with Manchester United (2008).
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Won: UEFA Champions League with Manchester United (2007–08).
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Won: FIFA Club World Cup with Manchester United (2008).
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Won award: PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2007–08).
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Won award: ESM Team of the Year (2007–08).
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Ferdinand filmed a documentary about Peckham, aiming to persuade youngsters away from a life of crime
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2007· 4 entries
Won the English FA Community Shield with Manchester United (2007).
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Won: FA Community Shield with Manchester United (2007).
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Won award: PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2006–07).
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Won: Premier League with Manchester United (2006–07).
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2006· 2 entries
Won: Football League Cup with Manchester United (2005–06).
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In Manchester, Ferdinand's girlfriend Rebecca Ellison gave birth to their first son
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2005· 2 entries
Won award: PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2004–05).
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Ferdinand, along with an old school friend, created the record label White Chalk Music
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2003· 4 entries
Won the English Premier League with Manchester United (2002-2003).
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Won the English FA Community Shield with Manchester United (2003).
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Won: Premier League with Manchester United (2002–03).
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Won: FA Community Shield with Manchester United (2003).
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2002· 6 entries
Won award: PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2001–02).
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During the rape trial of their acquaintance Martin King, Ferdinand and former Leeds colleague Michael Duberry denied allegations that Duberry had molested the woman and Ferdinand had threatened her in the Leeds nightclub
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Fan Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran's lead singer) promised to re-record one of the football chants if the England team (featuring Ferdinand) won their World Cup quarter-final against Brazil
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And Paraguay, Trinidad & Tobago, Ecuador and Portugal in 2006
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Joined Manchester United in 2002.
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Played for Manchester United F.C. (2002–2014) — 312 appearances, 7 goals.
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2001· 2 entries
Won award: Premier League Player of the Month (October 2001).
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Before he joined Manchester United in July 2002 for around £30 million, breaking the British transfer fee record once more
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2000· 3 entries
Played for Leeds United F.C. (2000–2002) — 54 appearances, 2 goals.
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Ferdinand briefly appeared in a sexually explicit video filmed at the Ayia Napa resort in Cyprus along with fellow English footballers Kieron Dyer and Frank Lampard
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Joined Leeds in 2000.
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1999· 1 entry
Won: UEFA Intertoto Cup with West Ham United (1999).
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1998· 2 entries
Won award: West Ham United Hammer of the Year (1997–98).
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And missing 2010 through injury), he never went 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
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1997· 4 entries
Setting a record as the youngest defender to play for England at the time
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Played for England men's national association football team (1997–2011) — 81 appearances, 3 goals.
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Played for England national under-21 association football team (1997–2000) — 5 appearances, 0 goals.
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Joined England in 1997.
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1996· 4 entries
Played for West Ham United F.C. (1996–2000) — 127 appearances, 2 goals.
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Played for AFC Bournemouth (1996–1997) — 10 appearances, 0 goals.
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Played for England national under-18 association football team (1996–1997) — 7 appearances, 0 goals.
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Joined West Ham in 1996.
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1978· 1 entry
Born 1978-11-07.
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