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Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand retires

By Kris Whelan

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Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has retired after an extremely successful career

Rio Ferdinand has announced his retirement from soccer following a glittering career that included numerous Premier League titles and a Champions League winners medal for Manchester United.

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Ferdinand struggled to earn a consistent place in the QPR, starting 11 matches during the final season of his career. It’s also been a tragic year on a personal level for the defender as he lost his wife Rebecca Elison to cancer at the beginning of May.

His announcement wasn’t a major shock to the world of football due to his age and his decline in form, but that hasn’t stopped people from looking back on his achievements with great admiration. Ferdinand won a total of six Premier League titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup and two League cups.

Ferdinand released a statement that outlined his intentions to leave the game of soccer:

"“After 18 years as a professional footballer, I now feel it’s the right time for me to retire from the game that I love. 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.”"

Tributes for the defender have been rampant on social media:

Though the final years of his career weren’t as successful as his time with Manchester Utd, he will be remembered as one of the greatest defenders the Premier League has ever seen. His legacy at Manchester Utd will live on forever.

"“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.”"

H/T Sky Sports

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