Editing Rio Ferdinand (section)

==Club career==
===West Ham United===
[[File:Anton and Rio Ferdinand with West Ham United.jpg|thumb|left|Rio and Anton Ferdinand playing in [[Tony Carr]]'s testimonial match in 2010.]]

Originally scouted by [[Frank Lampard Sr.|Frank Lampard]], Ferdinand progressed through the youth-team ranks, earning a professional contract and a place in the first-team squad in the process.<ref name=Caspar/> On 5 May 1996, he made his senior team debut, as he came on as a substitute for [[Tony Cottee]] in the Hammers' last game of the season, a 1–1 home draw against [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]].<ref name=Caspar/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=260501|title=West Ham 1(0)&nbsp;– 1(0) Sheff Wed|access-date=22 April 2008|work=Soccerbase|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050521221256/http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=260501|archive-date=21 May 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 1 February 1997, Ferdinand scored his first goal for West Ham, in his sixth appearance for the club, scoring in a 2–1 loss against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]. In doing so, Ferndinand became the youngest player, aged 18 and 86 days, to score for West Ham in the Premier League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3250314|title=The reasons why Rio Ferdinand joins Premier League Hall of Fame|publisher=Premier League|date=3 May 2023|access-date=12 May 2024}}</ref> During the summer of 1997, [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] made enquires about Ferdinand before they turned to [[Henning Berg]] after West Ham rejected any sale.<ref>{{cite news|last=Nixon|first=Alan|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-berg-makes-pounds-5m-move-to-united-1245136.html|title=Berg makes £5m move to United|date=12 August 1997|access-date=3 July 2014|newspaper=The Independent |location=London}}</ref>

During the 1997–98 season, Ferdinand won the Hammer of the Year award at the young age of 19.<ref name=GUIDE>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/a-beginners-guide-to-rio-ferdinand-wvzvjvdml0x|title=A beginner's guide to Rio Ferdinand|last=Coffey|first=Charlie|newspaper=[[The Times]]|location=London |date=5 February 2010|access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>

====AFC Bournemouth (loan)====
In November 1996, Ferdinand joined [[AFC Bournemouth]] on loan. He made his debut on 9 November in a 1–1 away draw against [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]. He played 10 games for Bournemouth before returning to West Ham in January 1997.<ref name="96/97"/>

===Leeds United===
Ferdinand joined Premier League club [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in November 2000 for £18&nbsp;million, then a British transfer record as well as becoming the world's most expensive defender.<ref name=GUIDE/> Despite an uncomfortable start to his career at [[Elland Road]], beginning with a 3–1 defeat at [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] on his debut,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/leeds-united/2993828/Leeds-refuse-to-blame-it-on-Rio.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/leeds-united/2993828/Leeds-refuse-to-blame-it-on-Rio.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Leeds refuse to blame it on Rio|last=Carroll|first=Jack|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=2 December 2000|access-date=26 July 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Ferdinand settled well and became an integral part of the Leeds team that reached the semi-final stage of the [[UEFA Champions League]], scoring with a header in the quarter-final against Spain's [[Deportivo de La Coruña|Deportivo La Coruña]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/champions_league/1257903.stm|title=Spaniards humbled by Leeds|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 April 2001|access-date=4 November 2009}}</ref> Other highlights during his spell in Yorkshire included goals against Liverpool at [[Anfield]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1273915.stm|title=Leeds shock Liverpool|publisher=BBC Sport|date=13 April 2001|access-date=4 November 2009}}</ref> and a scoring return to Upton Park.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1285934.stm|title=Leeds see off hapless Hammers|publisher=BBC Sport|date=21 April 2001|access-date=4 November 2009}}</ref>

The following season, in August 2001, he became the club [[captain (association football)|captain]] after replacing [[Lucas Radebe]] and turned in an impressive second campaign, despite Leeds' failure to break into the top three and secure qualification for the competition they had figured in so prominently during the previous season. During the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], rumours began circulating that the club were in dire financial trouble and that new manager [[Terry Venables]] would be forced to part with his star defender for a substantial amount of cash. Later that summer after Ferdinand's impressive World Cup for England, Leeds accepted a bid of £29.3&nbsp;million with possible performance related add-ons up to £33.3&nbsp;million due to their perilous financial position.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2143600.stm|title=Man Utd seal Rio deal|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 July 2002|access-date=14 August 2019}}</ref> Years later, Rio admitted he sat in the office of Leeds chairman [[Peter Ridsdale]] for almost six hours to force the transfer through.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/eNZVLwC0JDU Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190909035641/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNZVLwC0JDU Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNZVLwC0JDU |title="I would've gone public!" Rio and Cole on player power |publisher=YouTube / BT Sport |date=10 August 2019 |access-date=14 August 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Manchester United===
====2002–2007====
[[File:R Ferdinand.jpg|thumb|upright|Ferdinand for Manchester United in 2008]]
On 22 July 2002, Ferdinand joined fellow Premier League side Manchester United on a five-year deal to become the most expensive British footballer in history at the time and the world's most expensive defender for a second time, a title he had lost in 2001 to [[Lilian Thuram]]. Ferdinand went on to win the Premier League title with Manchester United in his first season at the club. He collected a winner's medal in the [[2006 Football League Cup Final|2006 League Cup]], with runners-up medals in the [[2003 Football League Cup Final|2003 League Cup]] and the [[2005 FA Cup Final|2005 FA Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2140871.stm |title=Man Utd reach Rio deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 July 2002 |access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref>

In September 2003, he failed to attend a [[drug test]] scheduled to take place at United's Carrington training ground.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelso |first1=Paul |last2=Mackay |first2=Duncan |last3=Taylor |first3=Daniel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/oct/07/football.duncanmackay |title=England star Ferdinand in drugs test row |date=7 October 2003 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Ferdinand had left after training to go shopping, only to remember and attempt to return, only to be told it was too late.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lawrence |first=Mike |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3185724.stm |title=Key questions facing Ferdinand |date=13 October 2003 |access-date=16 March 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> He later undertook the test and passed,<ref>{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Glenn |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/ferdinand-faces-ban-for-missing-drug-test-90238.html |title=Ferdinand faces ban for missing drug test |date=10 October 2003 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=The Independent}}</ref> and also later offered to have a hair follicle test,<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/mar/19/sport.comment1 |title=Rio at a dead end clutching at hairs |date=19 March 2004 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> but the FA turned down the offer.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stuart |last=Brennan |title=FA turn down new Rio test |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fa-turn-down-new-rio-1098807 |work=Manchester Evening News |publisher=MEN Media |date=13 August 2004 |access-date=30 November 2019}}</ref> [[The Football Association]] (FA) Disciplinary Committee, chaired by [[Barry Bright]], imposed an eight-month ban from January 2004 at club and international level and a £50,000 fine, meaning he would miss the rest of the season and some of the next along with all of [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/3333091.stm|title=Ferdinand banned for eight months|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 December 2003|access-date=26 August 2008}}</ref> United appealed against the verdict and sought to draw parallels to the case of [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] player [[Christian Negouai]], who was fined £2,000 for missing a test.<ref>{{cite web |last=Goodbody |first=John |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/negouai-precedent-may-help-ferdinand-fpzgkhf8q2t |title=Negouai precedent may help Ferdinand |date=9 October 2003 |access-date=16 March 2021 |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In the end, the original verdict was upheld.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3514462.stm |title=Ferdinand ban upheld |date=18 March 2004 |access-date=26 August 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> In September, it was announced that he would make his return against [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]];<ref>{{cite news |last=Plummer |first=David |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/sep/11/newsstory.sport3 |title=Ferdinand lined up for Liverpool return |date=11 September 2004 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Alex Ferguson praised his "assuredness and composure" as United won the match 2–1.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/3666228.stm |title=Ferdinand delight on return |date=20 September 2004 |access-date=16 March 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

In a fixture against [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] in May 2005, United supporters booed Ferdinand amidst his refusal to sign a new contract.<ref>{{cite news |last=Brodkin |first=Jon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/may/02/match.charltonathletic |title=Ferdinand feels fans' fury |date=2 May 2005 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Glenn |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/ferdinand-feels-wrath-of-fans-as-united-put-pressure-on-arsenal-221355.html |title=Ferdinand feels wrath of fans as United put pressure on Arsenal |date=2 May 2005 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=The Independent}}</ref> Ferdinand still hadn't signed a new contract in July and faced pressure from Ferguson to sign it,<ref>{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Tom |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/2341819/fergie-rio-must-sign-now |title=Fergie: Rio must sign now |date=13 July 2005 |access-date=16 March 2021 |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> taking away his position as vice-captain.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/jul/14/newsstory.sport2 |title=Ferguson losing patience in Ferdinand contract saga |date=14 July 2005 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> Ferdinand was booed during several pre-season friendlies in July and August,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Jamie |last2=Johnson |first2=Simon |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/jul/21/newsstory.sport1 |title=Ferguson tells fans to back Ferdinand |date=21 July 2005 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4744347.stm |title=Ferdinand faces abuse from fans |date=4 August 2005 |access-date=16 March 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> before finally signing a new four-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4132562.stm |title=Ferdinand signs new Man Utd deal |date=12 August 2005 |access-date=16 March 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Ferdinand later reflected on the saga, saying how he used it as motivation to change the views of United's supporters from negative to positive.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/may/20/championsleague.manchesterunited10 |title=Ferdinand overcomes boos problem and warms to the cheers |date=20 May 2008 |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

On 14 December, in a game against [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]], Ferdinand scored his first goal for United, en route to a 4–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd 4–0 Wigan |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4516926.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 December 2005 |access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref> He followed this later in the month with a powerfully headed goal against [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd 3–0 West Brom |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4537468.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 December 2005 |access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref> On 22 January 2006, Ferdinand scored a last minute winner against Liverpool at Old Trafford.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd 1–0 Liverpool |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4612230.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 January 2006 |access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref> In the corresponding fixture in the following season on 22 October, Ferdinand scored again in a 2–0 victory.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd 2–0 Liverpool |first=Caroline |last=Cheese |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/6050692.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 October 2006 |access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref>

Following impressive and consistent performances in the league, Rio Ferdinand was named in the [[2006–07 in English football|2006–07]] [[PFA Team of the Year|PFA Premiership Team of the Season]], alongside seven of his Manchester United teammates.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6582201.stm |title=Ronaldo secures PFA award double |publisher=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2007 |access-date=26 June 2008}}</ref>

====2007–2014====
[[File:Rio Juventus.jpg|thumb|Ferdinand with [[Olof Mellberg]] in a match against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] in 2008]]

Ferdinand started the 2007–08 season well, he was part of a United defence that managed to keep six clean sheets in a row in the Premier League, before conceding an early goal to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] at [[Villa Park]] on 20 October 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aston Villa 1–4 Man utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7043000.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=20 October 2007 |access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref> It was also during this game where Ferdinand scored his first goal of the season, which was United's third goal of that game, with a left foot strike which took a very strong deflection off one of Villa's defenders. Just three days later, Ferdinand scored his first European goal for United by opening the scoring against [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]], with a superb header. United dominated the game and won 4–2.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dynamo Kiev 2–4 Man Utd |first=Saj |last=Chowdhury |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7054215.stm |website=BBC Sport |date=23 October 2007 |access-date=10 May 2012}}</ref>

On 12 January 2008, Ferdinand bagged a rare Premier League goal in a 6–0 hammering of [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] at Old Trafford. In their FA Cup quarter-final match against [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] on 8 March 2008 when Manchester United dominated, Ferdinand made a rare appearance as a goalkeeper, after [[Edwin van der Sar]] left the pitch with a groin injury and the replacement keeper, [[Tomasz Kuszczak]], was sent off after conceding a penalty. Despite diving the right way, he was unable to save [[Sulley Muntari]]'s spot kick, and Manchester United were eliminated from the [[FA Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7272806.stm|title=Man Utd 0–1 Portsmouth|date=8 March 2008|access-date=26 June 2008|website=BBC Sport|first=Phil|last=McNulty}}</ref> On 6 April 2008, against Middlesbrough, Ferdinand limped out of the match due to a foot injury. He was rated doubtful whether he would face [[A.S. Roma]] in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg on 9 April 2008. He would play the full 90 minutes, though he received three stitches at half-time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alansmith/2296848/Roma-fail-to-cash-in-on-jittery-defence.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/alansmith/2296848/Roma-fail-to-cash-in-on-jittery-defence.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Roma fail to cash in on jittery defence|last=Smith|first=Alan|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=10 April 2008|access-date=26 July 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

After United's 2–1 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League in April 2008, Ferdinand swore at Chelsea stewards and tried to kick a wall in the tunnel, but instead kicked a female steward, Tracy Wray. Ferdinand claimed to have merely brushed her with his foot.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2298475/Rio-Ferdinand-apologises-over-steward-incident.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2298475/Rio-Ferdinand-apologises-over-steward-incident.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Rio Ferdinand apologises over steward incident|last=Benammar|first=Emily|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=26 April 2008|access-date=19 July 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He said he had apologised and sent the steward some flowers. However, Wray showed the bruise on her leg to the media, and her husband claimed that Ferdinand had not apologised or sent flowers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1913804/Rio-Ferdinands-kick-victim-reveals-bruise-after-Chelsea-Manchester-United-match.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1913804/Rio-Ferdinands-kick-victim-reveals-bruise-after-Chelsea-Manchester-United-match.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Rio Ferdinand's kick victim reveals bruise|last=Bloxham|first=Andy|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=30 April 2008|access-date=19 July 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Ferdinand Fabregas.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Ferdinand as [[Captain (association football)|captain]] during the [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|2008–09 Champions League]] semi-final.]]

It was announced on 18 April 2008 that, along with [[Michael Carrick]] and [[Wes Brown]], Ferdinand had agreed to sign a new five-year contract, worth around £130,000 a week, that would keep him with United until 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ferdinand signs new Man Utd deal|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7354524.stm|website=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2008|access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref> On 21 May 2008, Ferdinand captained Manchester United to a [[2008 UEFA Champions League Final|Champions League Final]] victory versus Chelsea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/Match-Reports/2008/May/Report-MU-1-6-Chelsea-1-5.aspx|title=Report: MU 1 (6) Chelsea 1 (5)|publisher=Manchester United F.C.|date=21 May 2008|access-date=26 June 2008|last=Thompson|first=Gemma|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714030538/http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/Match-Reports/2008/May/Report-MU-1-6-Chelsea-1-5.aspx|archive-date=14 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> He accepted the trophy together with [[Ryan Giggs]], as Giggs was the on field captain for most of the matches during that season during [[Gary Neville]]'s absence due to injury.

In an interview with [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] he criticised FIFA's approach to tackling racism in football, stating that not enough was being done to punish those guilty of homophobic or racist abuse at matches. Regarding taunts aimed at [[Emile Heskey]] in England's 4–1 victory against Croatia in [[Zagreb]], Ferdinand remarked:<blockquote>"Croatia were fined a few thousand quid. What's that going to do? That is not going to stop people shouting racist or homophobic abuse...If things like this keep happening you have to take points off them. Then the punters will realise the team is going to be punished."<ref>{{cite news|title=Ferdinand condemns Fifa on racism|website=BBC Sport |date=8 October 2008|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7659284.stm|access-date=8 October 2008}}</ref></blockquote>

Ferdinand had an injury plagued 2009–10 season, a number of back and knee injuries kept him on the sidelines for months. He returned to action on 28 January 2010, but was banned for four games after being found guilty of violent conduct for elbowing [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]'s [[Craig Fagan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/26/rio-ferdinand-fa-charge|last=Taylor|first=Daniel |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |date=26 January 2010 |access-date=19 July 2011|title=Rio Ferdinand charged by FA with violent conduct against Hull}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8481114.stm|title=Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand gets four-game ban |website=BBC Sport|date=28 January 2010|access-date=19 July 2011}}</ref>

Due to a knee injury he suffered in the summer of 2010, which ruled him out of the World Cup for England, he missed all of pre-season, the Community Shield and the first four games of the [[2010–11 Premier League]] season. He returned to first-team football in the opening game of the Champions League group stage against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] on 14 September. He captained the side and played the full 90 minutes in a goalless draw. He started the season opening game in August 2011, the [[2011 FA Community Shield]], where United found themselves 2–0 down at half time to city rivals Manchester City. Ferdinand was taken off after 45 minutes along with defensive partner [[Nemanja Vidić]] and replaced by [[Jonny Evans]] and [[Phil Jones (footballer, born 1992)|Phil Jones]] respectively. United went on to win the game 3–2 and Ferdinand claimed his fourth Community Shield medal of his career. Ferdinand started in the opening Premier League match of the season at West Bromwich Albion, a game United won 2–1, but he went off with a hamstring injury after 75 minutes. After the match, [[Alex Ferguson]] confirmed that Ferdinand would be out for six weeks. Ferdinand however recovered much quicker than initially diagnosed and returned to take a place on the bench two weeks later at Old Trafford in United's 8–2 demolition of [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], although he did not play a part in the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/08/19/2626680/nemanja-vidic-out-for-up-to-five-weeks-as-rio-ferdinand|title=Ferdinand returns much earlier than expected for Arsenal game|publisher=Goal.com|date=19 August 2011|access-date=3 September 2011}}</ref> Ferdinand made his return to competitive action in a 1–1 draw against [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] at the [[Britannia Stadium]].

[[File:Rio Ferdinand QPR.JPG|thumb|150px|Ferdinand with Queens Park Rangers, October 2014]]

On 9 December 2012, Ferdinand was struck and injured by a coin thrown from the home crowd during United's 3–2 [[Manchester derby|derby]] victory away from home against Manchester City.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-20658846|title=Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand hurt by thrown coin|work=BBC News|date=9 December 2012}}</ref>

On 5 March 2013, Ferdinand, unhappy with the referee [[Cüneyt Çakır]]'s decision to send off [[Nani (footballer)|Nani]] during a 2–1 Champions League defeat to [[Real Madrid]] at Old Trafford, clapped sarcastically in the referee's face after the game. He escaped any punishment from UEFA for the incident.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9915138/Manchester-Uniteds-Rio-Ferdinand-escapes-Uefa-sanction-for-sarcastically-applauding-Turkish-referee-Cuneyt-Cakir.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/9915138/Manchester-Uniteds-Rio-Ferdinand-escapes-Uefa-sanction-for-sarcastically-applauding-Turkish-referee-Cuneyt-Cakir.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand escapes Uefa sanction for sarcastically applauding Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir |newspaper=The Telegraph |location=London |date=7 March 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 12 May 2013, Ferdinand scored the winner and final goal of the Alex Ferguson era at Old Trafford in a 2–1 victory over [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]. After a corner was missed by everyone, the ball found its way to Ferdinand at the back post and he hit it on the volley to seal the win. On 23 May 2013, it was announced that Ferdinand had secured a new one-year contract that would see him stay with the club until the end of the 2013–14 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22582699|title=Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand earns new contract|date=23 May 2013}}</ref> He was not offered an extension when that contract expired, and agreed to leave Manchester United on 12 May 2014. In a letter on his official website, he said "I am feeling fit and healthy, ready for a new challenge and looking forward to whatever the future holds for me."<ref>{{cite news|title=Rio Ferdinand: Defender to leave Manchester United in summer|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27386066|access-date=12 May 2014|website=BBC Sport|date=12 May 2014}}</ref>

===Queens Park Rangers===
On 17 July 2014, Ferdinand signed for newly promoted Premier League club [[Queens Park Rangers]] on a one-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28317707|title=Rio Ferdinand: QPR sign ex-Man Utd and England defender|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 July 2014|access-date=19 July 2014}}</ref> He returned to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving Manchester United on 14 September 2014 to face his former club in the Premier League in which his side was beaten 4–0.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Henson|first1=Mike|title=Man Utd 4–0 QPR|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/29098240|access-date=18 September 2014|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 September 2014}}</ref>

In October 2014, Ferdinand confirmed in an interview on ''[[The Jonathan Ross Show]]'' that he would retire at the end of the season, saying "I'm not fearful of retirement, I'm looking forward to it, I can see some good stuff hopefully happening ahead".<ref>{{cite news|title=Premier League: Ex-England and Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand plans to retire|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9531991/premier-league-ex-england-and-manchester-united-captain-rio-ferdinand-plans-to-retire|access-date=24 October 2014|publisher=Sky Sports|date=24 October 2014}}</ref> In May 2015, following their relegation, Queens Park Rangers announced the release of Ferdinand in the summer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32904955|title=Rio Ferdinand and Joey Barton among six to leave QPR|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=27 May 2015}}</ref> He made only 12 appearances for QPR in his only season with the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/11633694/Joey-Barton-and-Rio-Ferdinand-released-on-free-transfers-by-QPR.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/11633694/Joey-Barton-and-Rio-Ferdinand-released-on-free-transfers-by-QPR.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Joey Barton and Rio Ferdinand released on free transfers by QPR|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=27 May 2015|access-date=28 May 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 30 May 2015, Ferdinand announced his retirement from professional football, three days after his departure from QPR.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sport.bt.com/sport-football/football/rio-ferdinand-announces-retirement-from-football-S11363983663561|title=Rio Ferdinand announces retirement from football|publisher=BT Sport|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9869696/rio-ferdinand-announces-his-retirement-from-football|title=Rio Ferdinand announces his retirement from football|publisher=Sky Sports|date=30 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015}}</ref>