Rio Ferdinand Bio: Amazing Facts About The English Football Star

Table of Contents

Profile Summary

Name: Rio Gavin Ferdinand
Year of Birth: 1978
Nationality: British
Occupation: footballer

Rio Gavin Ferdinand is a retired English footballer, known for playing center-back for famous football clubs, including Manchester United, and serving as a television pundit for BT Sport.

Rio Ferdinand age

Rio Gavin Ferdinand was born November 7, 1978, in Camberwell, London, UK.

He grew up in Peckham with his parents Julian and Janice Ferdinand. His father, Julian, worked as a professional tailor to support the family.

At the age of 14, Ferdinand’s parents got separated. He attended Camelot Primary School and later attended Blackheath Bluecoat School.

While in school, he excelled in football, gymnastics, drama, and ballet.
His interest in soccer started early, and he became serious about making it his career.

Rio Ferdinand Career

Ferdinand’s career in football started when he joined West Ham United football club, starting with the youth rank, in 1992 before debuting in the premier league in 1996.

He started as a defender and later on played for attacking midfield, where he played with control.

Ferdinand won his first International Cup in 1997, a match he played against Cameron, which set him the youngest defender to play for England.

His great football prowess attracted a contract from Leeds United, where he then transferred to the club for a fee of £18 million.

How much did Man United pay for Rio Ferdinand?

He played with the club for two seasons and became a captain in 2001. He was then signed to Manchester United in 2002 for £30 million, a price that broke the transfer fee record.

Ferdinand’s contract with Manchester United was for five years, and he became the most expensive British footballer and the world’s most expensive defender at that time.

He had his first win in the club. During his first playing season with them, he also collected a medal in the League Cup of 2006 and collected medals in the 2003 League Cup and 2005 FA Cup.

In 2003, Ferdinand missed a drug test and was banned from playing for eight months, making him miss half a season of the premier league, the FA Cup, and the Euro 2004 Competition.

Subsequently, he succeeded in the premier league in the 2006-2007 season and the UEFA Champions League.

Later on, in 2008, he signed a new contract with Manchester United worth £130,000 per week, which was a very high pay.

He later captained the club in 2008 and brought them to a victory in the Champions League final march against Chelsea FC.

However, his contract expired after winning 14 trophies and six premier league titles in 2014.

Ferdinand then joined the Queens Park Rangers, where he played for one season before his release.

On May 30, 2015, he announced his retirement from football. That same year he became a sports expert and commenter for BT sport.

Rio Ferdinand Wife

Ferdinand and his girlfriend Rebecca Ellison welcomed their first son together in 2006, and two more children later followed this.

Later on, in 2009, they both got married and enjoyed a short time together.

Unfortunately, on May 2, 2015, Ferdinand’s wife Ellison died of Breast cancer.

He did a memoir of her titled “Thinking Out Loud,” co-written by Decca Aitkenhead.

After some years, Ferdinand got married for the second time to Kate Wright, and the ceremony was a closed affair for just the couple and their families.

Their first son together was born in December 2020.

Rio Ferdinand’s Controversy

Ferdinand tried to sue the Sunday Mirror in 2010 for allegedly publishing a story of his affair with Carly Storey and ten other different women.

But the case was unsuccessful.