Rio Ferdinand: Why I Stopped Going To Night Clubs

Rio Gavin Ferdinand OBE (born 7 November 1978) is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back, and is now a television pundit for BT Sport. He played 81 times for the England national team between 1997 and 2011, and was a member of three FIFA World Cup squads. He is one of the most decorated English footballers of all time and regarded by many as one of England's greatest ever players.

Ferdinand began his football career playing for various youth teams, finally settling at West Ham United where he progressed through the youth ranks and made his professional Premier League debut in 1996. He became a fan favourite, winning the Hammer of the Year award the following season. He earned his first senior international cap in a match against Cameroon in 1997, setting a record as the youngest defender to play for England at the time. His achievements and footballing potential attracted Leeds United and he transferred to the club for a record-breaking fee of £18 million. He spent two seasons at the club, becoming the team captain in 2001, before he joined Manchester United in July 2002 for around £30 million, breaking the transfer fee record once more.

At Manchester United, he won the Premier League, his first major club honour, in a successful first season at the club. In September 2003, he missed a drugs test and was banned from football for eight months from January until September 2004, causing him to miss half a Premier League season, Manchester United's FA Cup triumph, and the Euro 2004 international competition. Upon his return, he established himself in the Manchester United first team and received plaudits for his performances, featuring in the PFA Team of the Year four times in five years. More club success followed with another Premier League win in the 2006–07 season and a Premier League and UEFA Champions League double the following year. His career at United, in which he won six Premier League titles and 14 trophies, ended when his contract expired in 2014, and he subsequently joined Queens Park Rangers where he played for just one season before being released from the club as a result of their relegation from the Premier League. He announced his retirement from professional football on 30 May 2015.

In September 2017, Ferdinand announced his intention to become a professional boxer, partly to help him cope with the death of his wife. His brother, Anton, also a centre-back, last played for St Mirren. Former England international striker Les Ferdinand and former Dagenham & Redbridge midfielder Kane Ferdinand are his cousins.

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[HEALTHANDWEALTHCHANNEL-ho]

Came in expecting juicy details about rio's night life. Came out with life lessons

[Drillah]

Exactly the attitude to have. Life is about growth not stagnation

[MikBak]

How many times have you heard fellow professionals say that Paul Scholes was the best football player on the pitch or in training. Now consider how many world class players he was surrounded by constantly at Man Utd...

[mnb]

Rio was actually probably at his peak at Leeds then the World Cup 2002. I remember thinking this guy is a physical beast. At United he was still world class and achieved everything but at Leeds I just remember thinking 'jesus' this guy is on a mission. At United he looked a bit more calm and in a comfort zone. Where as at Leeds he looked so hungry. Naturally he probably thought he had made it to a degree and just needed to tick over at United due to the other characters already there. Where as at Leeds they were trying to prove themselves.

[sinking]

He was a Fkn tank of a man at Leeds. Absolutely incredible athlete at that time!

[ianodonoghue]

Didn't get picked for the Euro 2000
"Right that's never happening again"

Proceeds to not play in Euro 2004, Euro 2008 or 2012

[teddybruckshut]

My mate told me years ago about seeing Rio in a club, high of cocaine and burning £50 notes on the dancefloor

[samuellewis]

If he doesn't say "I stopped going to nightclubs after I nearly got caught doing beak" then it's a lie

[Monacofm]

If a nightclub is safe haven from you two, I might go more often.

[cacambo]

Great question! Is it cos you're old, Rio?

[JafLaf]

Whys yhis guy ALWAYS applaudimg himself.

[utkubirgul]

You produce very quality contents but you have very few subscribers. Why? What dou you think about it?

[Harmuthkuthanapalithi]

Giggs was good at stretching apparently in his brother's bed while he was at work

[Glenuig]

Cokehead stops going to nightclubs haha love it keep the dream alive Rio

[MBison-vmgq]

Luckily Giggsy wasn't the biggest wrong'un in that time Rio. That's some of the best you don't need 😂

[mdsimps]

TL:DR he became bored of spiking drinks

[pm]

All footballers go mad during breaks they are human with millions in the bank

[sandersson]

It shows how unprofessional most British footballers are.
You don't see proper sportsmen from real sports put until all hours in bars.

[paddymcp]

why does he never go into his missed drug test?

[Joseph-dmxi]

Footballer or not at 25 years old you should have stopped night clubbing.