455 appearances, six league titles, three domestic trophies and a Champions League title - Rio Ferdinand certainly has much to show for his twelve seasons at Old Trafford. It still takes some adjusting to see the former Manchester United stalwart turn out each week in a QPR jersey, so the idea of him winning silverware with one of the clubs fiercest title challengers appears to be an almost alien concept. According to the man himself, however, it almost happened when he decided to leave West Ham 14 years ago.
''When I decided to leave West Ham, Chelsea wanted me but I realised I needed to leave London. I had to get away from the bright lights and all the invitations to nightclubs I found so hard to refuse. - Rio Ferdinand, October 2014.
However, considering the unbridled success that he enjoyed at the Theatre of Dreams, reaching even reaching the pinnacle of football by shattering the dreams of Blues supporters in Moscow, there was no way that Ferdinand regretted the career path that he chose. There was also the sub-plot that almost tore Ferdinands family apart, as the Chelsea captain John Terry was accused of racially abusing his brother Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road in October 2011. Considering Rio has since branded the former England captain an idiot for his part in the court saga, and has refused to speak to him since, its probably safe to say that he doesnt regret not having struck up a decade-long partnership with his brothers tormentor.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
