It’s quite incredible that the West Ham United Academy could produce two of the greatest central defenders in English football history.
Of course Bobby Moore will forever more remain number one on that list but it will be many years before another colossus comes along in the mould of Rio Ferdinand, who announced his retirement this weekend, after a glittering 19 year career.
After being invited to train at Chadwell Heath in 1992, he quickly rose through the youth ranks under the stewardship of Tony Carr, who described him as a ‘talent, pure talent, he could do most things’ before signing pro terms in 1996.
In his early years at the club Rio was also described as a ‘Rolls Royce’ by manager Harry Redknapp. He made his debut on the final game of the 1995/96 season, before spending the first half of the 96/97 on loan at Bournemouth.
After impressing on the south coast, Ferdinand was brought back to West Ham by Redknapp in the New Year and was thrown straight into the club’s relegation battle.
Inspired mainly by the goals of new signings John Hartson and Paul Kitson, the Hammers managed to stay up. Rio was used at the back, in midfield, even up front and bagged two goals, including the memorable second at Coventry City, in a 3-1 win, after going behind early on.
If 96/97 was a break-through year, 97/98 was the year that the whole country began to realise what an outstanding prospect the boy from Peckham was.
Now given a permanent position in the centre of a three man back-line, he began to show on a regular basis the qualities that would go on to make him one of the best defenders in the world. The reading of the game, the explosive pace, the timing of a challenge, where he would effortlessly glide across the turf to nick the ball of a forward’s toes. The calmness on the ball, so unusual to see in so many English defenders.
England manager Glenn Hoddle could not ignore his International class potential and he named Rio in his squad to play Moldova in a World Cup Qualifier in September 1997. However, he was charged with drink driving, the first of a few indiscretions in his career. Hoddle was forced to drop him.
On the 15th November Rio did make his debut, at Wembley against Cameroon, becoming the youngest ever defender to represent England, at 19 years and 8 days of age.
Great pride was felt when his number was held up for for the injured Gareth Southgate. As he ran on to the hallowed turf it became immeasurable. I was 17 years old and he was my hero. I wanted to try and replicate the way he played the game in my Sunday morning team, on the fields of Hackney Marshes. So much so that I convinced my mates that I should be playing centre-half instead of midfield where I normally played.
It’s unusual for anyone to want to play in defence on a Sunday morning but watching Rio play made me enjoy defending. He made it fun for me. It probably wasn’t fun for my mates as I frequently got caught over-playing at the back.
He was not yet the finished article and was indeed still raw in those days but it made him more endearing to me. Always encouraged to bring the ball out from the back and to play his way out of trouble, there were uncomfortable moments. Most memorably, in the League Cup Quarter-Final defeat against Arsenal, when he had the ball pinched off his feet by Marc Overmars, who punished him with a goal. A harsh lesson and there were a few more of those too.
The British press would criticise him, too often for my liking back then. They’ve always preferred a warrior type of central defender in the Terry Butcher or Tony Adams mould. Admirable characters and heroes in an England shirt but neither were world class. It’s only now after all these years that people are starting to realise the need to produce defenders that can pass the ball, as well as being able to defend.
Rio’s game was improving and he was growing in stature. West Ham were no longer struggling in relegation battles, in fact they were looking upwards, finishing 8th, just one place away from UEFA Cup qualification. Rio was named Hammer Of The Year and was further rewarded with a place on the plane with the England squad, to the France 98 World Cup.
Although he didn’t make an appearance, the experience was a very valuable one and the 98/99 season that followed would be West Ham’s finest since 1985/86.
Seven clean sheets in the opening eleven league games of the season, paid testament to him and the teams growing consistency and with the addition later on in the season of Paulo Di Canio, the Hammers finished in 5th, a remarkable achievement.
The following year was another good one, this time finishing 9th but the real highlight was the progression through the Intertoto Cup and into the UEFA Cup for the first time in the clubs history. The night in Metz, when they overturned a 1-0 first leg, home defeat, would live long in the memory.
Kevin Keegan had since succeeded Hoddle as England manager and inexplicably left out Rio from the Euro 2000 squad, preferring the 33 year old stoppers Martin Keown and Tony Adams. England went out in the group stage.
After a sensational start to the 2000/01 season, and with West Ham needing the money to pay for the redevelopment of the Boleyn Ground, Rio was sold. There had been rumours for years that Manchester United had wanted him but it was Leeds United who acquired his signature and paid a world record fee for a defender, £18m.
It was a sad day for the club and for me. I couldn’t at the time believe it was Leeds who got him. That sale marked the start of a dark period in West Ham’s history, as they gradually declined, ending up with relegation in 2003. They lost a whole host of players that came through the Academy and we all had to watch them all reach the very top of the game at other clubs.
Rio of course was one of them. He captained Leeds to the Champions League Semi Finals, before becoming one of the stars of the 2002 World Cup.
He was then sold to Manchester United for £30m, again breaking the world record for a defender and spent 12 glorious years at Old Trafford, before finishing up at QPR for his final season.
The great Franco Baresi had praised Rio as ‘world class’ after seeing him play as a teenager but it was at Manchester United, where Rio won six Premier League titles and captained them to their 2008 Champions League Final win, as well as playing in a further two final defeats to Barcelona. Three League Cups, plus a World Club Cup and a European Super Cup a piece were also won. He was named in the PFA team of the year on six occasions and the FIFPro X1 on one occasion. He also won 81 caps for England, scoring 3 goals, captaining his country on many occasions.
There have been other controversial moments, like being banned for six months for forgetting to turn up at a drugs test in late 2003 but he will be remembered as one of the greats of English football.
It never helps for a young player to be compared to such a great as Bobby Moore but with Rio Ferdinand, the temptation became irresistible but he got to the top his way, with his own unique style, just like Bob did.
Last month Rio’s wife Rebecca, tragically passed away after a short battle with cancer. On the same day I was part of the Upton Park crowd that chanted his name, before our final home game of the season with Burnley. It was a wonderful, emotional moment.
I know we all wish him and his young family all the best in trying to deal with their terrible loss. He will always have a family with us at West Ham and it doesn’t need me to say that he is welcome back any time.
When it comes to analysing his career. Sheer class from day one.
‘Rio! Rio! Rio!’
I didn’t want to reply to this article, but feel I must ,firstly I offer my condolences to RIO at this emotional time in his life ,That said, for me there is no going back he and his agents are as mercenary as the rest I don’t think he gives two hoots for THE HAMMERS, (He was no West Ham Legend) he was Leeds & Man United, he would just like to use us again as a stepping stone to once again further a career .