Editing Rio Ferdinand (section)

====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>