Rio Ferdinand Age, Height, Wife & Biography

Rio Ferdinand is an English former professional footballer who is one of the most decorated defenders in Premier League history. As a centre-back for West Ham United, Leeds United and Manchester United, and for England, he won six Premier League titles and the Champions League, and he later became a television pundit.

Quick Facts

Full Name	Rio Gavin Ferdinand
Born	November 7, 1978
Age	48 years old
Birthplace	Peckham, London, England
Nationality	English
Height	6 feet 2 inches (1.89 m)
Occupation	Former professional footballer, centre-back
Years Active	1996 – 2015
Spouse	Kate Ferdinand (married 2019)
Known For	Manchester United, Champions League 2008, England

Who Is Rio Ferdinand?

Rio Ferdinand is a former defender from Peckham, London, who became one of the most expensive defenders in world football. He was known for his pace, his reading of the game and his ability to bring the ball out of defence, and he formed a long partnership with Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United.

Ferdinand won 81 caps for England and played at three World Cups. After retiring in 2015 he became a pundit for BT Sport and TNT Sports, and he has worked on charity projects, including the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, which supports young people in deprived areas.

Early Life & Background

Rio Gavin Ferdinand was born on November 7, 1978, in Peckham, London, England, to Julian Ferdinand and Janice St Fort. He grew up in Peckham and attended Blackheath Bluecoat School. He joined West Ham United’s academy as a boy and came through the club’s youth system.

Ferdinand made his debut for West Ham in 1996, at the age of 18, and became a regular in the team. He was known as a talented young defender, and in November 2000 Leeds United signed him for 18 million pounds, then a British record transfer fee.

Career

At Leeds United, Ferdinand helped the club reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2001. In July 2002 Manchester United signed him for 29.1 million pounds, then a world-record fee for a defender. He spent 12 seasons at United, winning the Premier League in 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013.

Ferdinand won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008, when United beat Chelsea on penalties in Moscow, and he also won the League Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. He left United in 2014 and spent one season at Queens Park Rangers, retiring from playing in 2015.

For England, Ferdinand made his debut in 1997, at the age of 19. He won 81 caps and scored three goals, and he played at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He was named England captain in 2010, but he missed the tournament through injury and Steven Gerrard captained the team instead.

Facts About Rio Ferdinand

• Rio Ferdinand was born in Peckham, London, on November 7, 1978.
• He joined Manchester United in 2002 for a then world-record fee for a defender.
• He won the Premier League six times with Manchester United.
• He won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008.
• He won 81 caps for England and played at three World Cups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ferdinand’s partnership with Nemanja Vidic at Manchester United is widely regarded as one of the best centre-back pairings in Premier League history, and the two helped United keep clean sheets in many big matches.