Premier League - Ferdinand drops retirement hint

Eurosport - Sun, 07 Dec 12:57:00 2008

Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has hinted he may retire from football when his contract at Old Trafford expires in 2012.

2008-2009 Rio Ferdinand - 0

Ferdinand, 30, moved to Manchester United from Leeds in 2002 and agreed an extension in May to keep him at Old Trafford for four more years.

The defender hopes to stay an integral member of Alex Ferguson's side until 2012 but accepts that it might then be time for him to retire.

He told Inside United magazine: "When I signed my extension in May I said to David Gill: 'I hope this isn't the last one.'

"But I'll be 34 when this contract runs out and, if I'm honest, I'd have to be very lucky with injuries and keep myself in tip-top shape if I want to go beyond that.

"At the moment I'm just aiming to see out this term. If I'm still playing in the first team at 34, I'll be delighted.

"Maybe then I can say I've had a good innings."

Ferdinand has already enjoyed a successful career with three Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League winner's medal and a League Cup triumph.

However, he is hungry for more silverware and is confident of adding to his trophy haul over the next few years.

"I'm greedy. If I finish my career with what I've won now, I'll be very disappointed," he said.

TeamTalk / Eurosport

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  1. i think rio partnership with vidic is a good­ combination. MU goal conceded last season below 10.­ that was a very good defending. good luck RIO!

    From vandread, on Mon 8 Dec 6:32PM

  2. quality,,rio

    From lyndsay_mike, on Mon 8 Dec 5:21PM

  3. 2012 is a little way of aint it?
    Why are people even­ talking about when he retires in 2012? He maybe playing­ after 34. He may not. I can't see the point in­ talking about what if. What if he colours his hair­ green? Can we talk about that? :)

    From laura j, on Mon 8 Dec 3:16PM

  4. plz stay rio your the best defender the world has ever­ seen!!

    From pond.simba, on Mon 8 Dec 2:45PM

  5. I'm an open minded girl from US, I'm interested­ in exotic things, photography, outdoors and sports...I­ have my photos on --- Tallhub Co m ---, I love tall­ guys!
    Do you love traveling and have some experience?­ Just find me out.

    From luobopires08, on Mon 8 Dec 9:55AM

  6. BRAINLESS your a joke with comments like­ that.........another anti United idiot

    From Damo, on Mon 8 Dec 8:22AM

  7. He should retire in 2 years at the end of the world­ cup. Otherwise he would become a joke, worse than­ Beckham

    From Half A Brain, on Mon 8 Dec 6:56AM

  8. the drug test thing leaves a black mark on rio's­ career as a whole. but that made him a better player­ with more responsibility, and loyalty to united. but­ that was about everything bad for rio at united.­ he's been free off major injuries. he's off­ from issues that has no concern with football. he's­ grown into a capable captain. he's formed a great­ partnership with vidic. it's just great.
    but it­ shocked me that he's announcing it now though...­ what for??

    From ah thong, on Mon 8 Dec 3:06AM

  9. i believe man u fans say he is the best cos they see­ him most with the ball,,,,yes i say he is one ot the­ best defenders to have the ball at his feet but to be­ honest now vidic is a class above ferdinand in­ defence,,,,,he used his pace when young and now he is­ the type of player you are hoping has gained huge­ experience that speed wont matter but i believe it does­ in the last few years it has been proven,, as an­ arsenal fan and england fan i hope he carries on and­ keeps learning as he has been a credit to the game­ since he came back from his drug ban,, maybe dont lean­ on the refs so much hee hee!!!! But as a fan i think­ vidic far outranks ferdinand as a defender that is my­ view

    From DAVID, on Mon 8 Dec 1:18AM

  10. Petertilley: I dont think so mate the guy is only 30­ and 34 years old still isnt that old for a central­ defender wich is what he will be in 4 yrs , Ferdinand­ is matureing with age and i personally think he has got­ better with age and will probably continue to do so . I­ hope the laid back style he has will see him stay fit­ for that long . The next United captain after giggs and­ Neville finally leave or retire and deservedly so to :)

    From Eagle3777, on Sun 7 Dec 11:24PM

  11. That's a little optimistic (or even arrogant) of­ him to think he'll last another 4 years at MUFC.­ He's past his best now, and they will surely put­ him out to pasture before 2012.

    From Peter, on Sun 7 Dec 11:13PM

  12. Paul K : are you on something ? Ferdinand is one of the­ Best Defenders UTD have evr had right up there with the­ likes of Bruce and pallister i tell you what if­ Ferdinand is only average like you say then id love to­ see how good our defence would be if he was world class­ !! dont talk @#$% bud he plays in one of the meanest­ defences in the league and over since pairing up with­ vidic has become even better as for saying he is lucky­ and could have ended up at southend just shows your­ total ignorance !

    From Eagle3777, on Sun 7 Dec 11:04PM

  13. most over rated defender i have ever seen.

    From robbo, on Sun 7 Dec 11:03PM

  14. Rio, you're the best. We love you, and your­ partnership with Vidic is right up there with the best­ of all time. I'm sure you'll win more trophies­ with United! Well on, Rio!

    PS, United looking good­ for the Carling Cup, and of course the World Club­ Championship, too....

    From United!!, on Sun 7 Dec 10:03PM

  15. rio is the best english center half for decades, saw­ his first game and you could see the talent in him,­ west ham troubles started the day we sold him , always­ welcome back to the boleyn,long may he play,the rolls­ royce of defenders

    From nigelkahn, on Sun 7 Dec 9:49PM

  16. who'll replace him at the back???

    From nahmad11, on Sun 7 Dec 9:30PM

  17. MEHN THIS IS A VERY NICE DECISION I THINK

    From revyoungdesk_un, on Sun 7 Dec 9:06PM

  18. Personally i think he's vey average....but a good­ pro.....& he's been very very lucky. He's­ just a big stopper. Could easily have ended up at­ Southend, Milton Keynes or even Blue Square league.

    From Paul, on Sun 7 Dec 8:37PM

  19. Fwerdinand has been a great player and United will need­ to fill a huge gap, but they will. There has been so­ much rubish talked about that missed drugs test but­ hardly anything about the negative test he took a day­ or two later. The punishment, like the one just given­ to Evra, was a typical example of the idiosyncracies­ practiced by the FA and was far too severe for the­ offence.

    From quatt47, on Sun 7 Dec 8:20PM

  20. not as good as terry or upson

    From eelliot, on Sun 7 Dec 7:26PM
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