Rio Ferdinand announces retirement from football

Rio Ferdinand played 81 times for England

Former Manchester United and England captain Rio Ferdinand has announced his retirement from football. He spent his last season at Queens Park Rangers who have now been relegated to the Championship.

Ferdinand made his first senior appearance for West Ham in 1996 and since then has gone on to play for Leeds United, Manchester United and most recently QPR. The 36-year-old told BT Sport that he had made the decision to draw the curtains on his career.

Ferdinand hasn’t been a regular starter for QPR, however, he has not played at all since the demise of his wife on May 1.

During his long career, Ferdinand has won 6 Premier League titles, 3 League Cups, 1 FA Cup, 1 Champions League, 1 Club World Cup, and 1 UEFA Super Cup.

I achieved everything that I desired in football

The former English national read out a statement on BT Sport, he said: “As a 12-year-old boy, kicking around a football on the Friary Estate in Peckham, I never dreamt that I would play for my boyhood club West Ham, captain Leeds United, win the Champions League with Manchester United, or re-join my first manager Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers.

“I will always regard the 81 times that I played for England, with immense pride. These are all treasured memories that will last a lifetime.

“Starting a career, every young man needs mentors. I found mine in Dave Goodwin, the district manager at Blackheath, and Tony Carr, the youth team manager at West Ham. They installed in me personality traits that lasted throughout my career. I will always be grateful to them.

“I'd like to thank Chris Ramsey, Harry Redknapp, David O'Leary and David Moyes who managed me at various times in my career, all the backroom staff who looked after me over the years, and the players that I played with. I would also like to thank the team who managed me off the pitch, Jamie Moralee and everybody at New Era.

“Winning trophies over my 13 years at Manchester United allowed me to achieve everything that I desired in football. From a young child to today, that was all I cared about.

“None of that would have been possible, without the genius of one man, Sir Alex Ferguson. His greatest accomplishment in my eyes will always be how he developed us as men, not just as footballers. He will in my opinion, always be the greatest manager in British football history.

“I'd also like to thank and pay tribute to my wife Rebecca and my family, including my mother and father, for their sacrifices, their encouragement and their advice throughout my career.

“And finally, I'd like to thank all the fans from all the clubs - for without them professional football would not exist. I will miss each and every one of you on my Saturday afternoons.”