Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand was born on 7th November, 1978, in Peckham, South London.
Rio Ferdinand plays as a centre back for Manchester United and England. His cousin is former English international striker Les Ferdinand, while his brother Anton is one of the central defenders for West Ham.
In 1992, Rio Ferdinand signed as a West Ham schoolboy, and showed incredible talent and was immediately compared to Bobby Moore. He made his first team debut in 1996 against Sheffield Wednesday at Upton Park. He played his first England game as a substitute in a friendly against Cameroon in 1988.
In November 2000, he became the British record transfer when he signed for the premiership side Leeds United, for £18million. Within a year at Leeds he became the captain of the side.
Rio Ferdinand certainly proved his class in the 2002 World Cup when he partnered Sol Campbell at the heart of the England defence. On 22nd July, 2002, Ferdinand broke the British transfer record again when he was bought by Sir Alex Ferguson for Manchester United for £30million. In his first season at Old Trafford he won the Premiership with United.
In 2003, Rio Ferdinand almost ruined his career by failing to turn up for a routine drugs test, claiming that he forgot as he was pre-occupied with moving house. The FA imposed an 8 month ban from January 2004 which applied to all matches, at club and international level.
During the ban he missed all of Euro 2004, in which John Terry took his place.
Rio Ferdinand was part of the England squad at the 2006 World Cup, in which he accompanied John Terry at the back.
With Manchester United, Rio Ferdinand's numerous trophies include the Premiership in 2006/2007.
Rio Ferdinand biography by Ben Rosenbaum
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