Let’s give Ferdinand the credit he deserves

It is possible that John Terry won’t be fit for the forthcoming England games. If he isn’t fit then the captain’s armband may well pass to his central defensive partner Rio Ferdinand.

Disappointed

I am one of a few people who were disappointed that Rio was overlooked for the role in the first place by Fabio Capello.

This article is all about why I think Rio Ferdinand should be the England captain. It isn’t an attack on John Terry who is a fine player and an excellent leader. It is simply about the real claims to the job that I believe Ferdinand has.

Anything but an angel

We all know that Rio Ferdinand has been anything but an angel in the past and many have said that his missed drugs test in 2003 should be enough to prevent him ever being given the England captaincy. This is an extreme view because the incident was five years ago and he served a punishment of being banned for eight months which led to him missing Euro 2004. Surely he was more than adequately punished for an incident in which he did wrong, but was blown out of all proportion.

Many people believe that he avoided the drugs test because he had something to hide. In fact, he took a test later the same day which was negative, but wasn’t allowed to be used in his defence. He missed the drugs test because he was arrogant and stupid. He knew it then and he knows it now. As they say, ‘if he could have his time over again…’

Driving offences

Other misdemeanours include a string of driving offences, but the most notable of those was over ten years ago. In 2006 he used the word ‘faggot’ on the radio which caused some offence and after the Chelsea defeat in April this year he was again involved in controversy when he apparently accidentally kicked a female steward. He apologised and gave the steward flowers and the apology was accepted.

Rio Ferdinand is twenty-nine years old and has played at the top level of the game for twelve years. Because of his personality and his ability, he has been in the public spotlight for almost all of that time. He has spent twelve years under intense media scrutiny and the list of issues above is about all anyone can say against him. Does that really make him a terrible person?

We all learn by our mistakes and Ferdinand has learned by his.

Ferdinand made his first team debut for West Ham in 1996 as a seventeen year-old. In the 1997-98 season he was West Ham’s player of the year despite being just nineteen years old.

World’s most expensive defender

In November 2000, at the age of just twenty-two, Ferdinand joined Leeds United for £18 million. At the time that was a British transfer record as well as making him the world’s most expensive defender. In August 2001 he was made the captain of Leeds.

In July 2002 Ferdinand made the move from Leeds to Manchester United. The details of how much the fee actually was became somewhat distorted by agents fees and Leeds’ financial crisis. It is safe to assume that Leeds were paid at least £30 million.

Poser

Ferdinand’s early Man Utd form came nowhere near to justifying his price tag. He was criticised for his tendency to make crucial errors and have lapses in concentration. Most notably, the great Franco Baresi labelled him as a poser. Having said that, Ferdinand picked up a Premier League winners medal in that first season at the club.

Since that slightly less than impressive first season in Manchester, Rio Ferdinand has rarely put a foot wrong on the pitch. He has developed into a completely reliable defender who is invariably in the right place at the right time. He reads the game as well as anyone, is strong in the tackle, good in the air and full of pace. When he brings the ball out of defence he has great ability and excellent distribution.

I would be prepared to say that he is arguably the best centre back in the world at this time.

Respect

He has the respect of his fellow professionals and has been selected in the Premier League team of the year on four occasions including the last two seasons.

With three Premier League winners medals, a Champions League winners medal and seventy England caps to his name, he is a vastly experienced defender who has ‘been there and done it’. He has played in two world cup tournaments, playing ten games, and remarkably, helping to keep seven clean sheets.

I have no objection to John Terry wearing the captain’s armband as he is a great captain. I think we are lucky to have two such fine defenders who can captain the side. I just want people to lay off Rio Ferdinand for things he has done in the past and give the new, responsible, Rio Ferdinand a chance.

Hero

If Rio was any other nationality a player of his class would be a hero no matter what he had done years ago. I just think it is time that we English fans started to appreciate what a great defender he is and get behind him if he does lead the side out in the next couple of matches.