DC - Rio Ferdinand #5

[indonewyork]

Ferdinand has overcome numerous off-field problems to earn his status as one of the most composed central defenders in the game.

The London-born player endured a torrid period including a drugs ban, a contract dispute and injury. But he is now back to his best.

He won his second championship at United in 2006/7 after establishing a strong central defensive partnership with Serb Nemanja Vidic.

And two winning goals against Liverpool have restored to some element of popularity among the Old Trafford faithful.

With another Premier League medal, and a first Champions League success, in 2008 his form is transferring into silverware too.

Rio began his career with West Ham United, nurtured by Harry Redknapp and making his debut in a 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday on the final day of the 1995/96 season.

He is a supremely elegant footballer who defends with intelligence and guile, but also uses the ball when possession is gained.

He made his England debut in 1998, coming on a substitute in a friendly against Cameroon.

A host of clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, had been chasing the centre-back, but in the end it was Leeds who produced the cheque book to seal an £18million deal in November 2000 - a world record fee for a defender.

Ferdinand, who also spent two months on loan at AFC Bournemouth during his formative years, played 158 games for the Hammers, scoring twice.

He was part of the Leeds side which produced miracles in Europe, reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2000/01 - but the club's dream of becoming one of Europe's best would end in financial failure and Rio's departure.

At the 2002 World Cup he emerged as a truly world class defender, even if the the FIFA selection panel mysteriously rated central defensive partner Sol Campbell higher.

He was a rock as England went out to Brazil in the quarter-finals, and he's sure to remember the 1-0 win over Argentina, as well as his headed goal against Denmark in the second round.

With the Leeds plc demanding cash must come into the club through transfers, it always seemed likely Ferdinand would move on. Leeds battled hard, desperate to keep their skipper at Elland Road, but in mid-July 2002 he handed in a transfer request.

Although it was turned down, within days he would move for £29.3million, rising to £33.3million, signing a five-year contract.

Ferdinand, a real favourite at Leeds, played 73 games for the club and scored three goals.

He picked up an ankle injury in a pre-season friendly with Boca Juniors, which delayed his full United debut until the 5-0 Champions League qualifying victory over Zalaegerszeg at Old Trafford. His Premiership debut came a few days later in a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

After a slow start he was desperate to silence the critics in the 2003/04 campaign but following the Premiership showdown with Arsenal, Ferdinand failed to attend a random drugs test at the club's training ground.

The news broke on the day the England squad was due to be announced for the crucial Euro 2004 showdown in Turkey. It led to protests from the rest of the squad - and an alleged threat of a strike - over the way it had been handled.

The game was played, without Rio, who was subsequently banned from representing England while the case ran its course. Ferdinand was banned for eight months.

Manchester United continued to play Ferdinand during the probe and his decision to appeal meant his eight-month ban did not start until January 20, 2004, running until September 20 - ruling him out of the Euro 2004 finals and the start of the 2004/05 season.

Sir Alex Ferguson claimed the loss of Ferdinand was the main reason United lost their Premiership crown to Arsenal in 2003/04.

Ferdinand returned from his enforced hiatus in the Premiership grudge match with Liverpool.

More controversy wasn't far away. Towards the end of the 2004/05 campaign, which was a trophyless one for United, Ferdinand began to stall on a new contract.

With the player looking for a reported £100,000-a-week, many United fans were angered by his stance. And in the club's pre-season programme for 2005/06 he was booed.

Ferdinand finally signed a new four-year contract just before the start of the season.

The 2006/07 season was perhaps his most consistent season as a Manchester United player, as the Red Devils lifted the Premiership after a gap of four years. And he followed that with the Premier League and Champions League double in 2007/08.

[and123]

Pemain yang pernah bermain untuk West Ham dan Leeds saat ini menjadi salah satu pemain top yang dimiliki MU. Dibandrol sekitar 30 juta pounds lebih, pemain ini sangat cool dalam menghadapui musuh-musuhnya. Seorang komentator pernah mengatakan bahwa permainan ini terlalu mudah untuk Ferdinand. Pemain ini sempat bermain sebagai striker di West Ham, tetapi postur tubuh yang tinggi, membuatnya dipakai sebagai pemain bertahan. Alhasil ia menjadi pemain bertahan paling sempurna yang Inggris miliki....

[aldinorio]

Ketika era Treble Winners di musim 1998-1999 dengan center back Jaap Stam, MU sulit ditaklukan, namun setelah era itu berakhir mulailah pencarian yang sulit untuk seorang centerback pengganti, sampai gw sendiri waktu itu berpendapat bahwa pertahanan MU adalah titik kelemahan utama. Masa itu MU paceklik kemenangan dan juara. Bet gw selalu kalah. Henningberg & Ronny Johnsen (dipaksakan menjadi center back) atau Wes Brown muda ga mampu menahan serangan lawan.

Akhirnya didapatlah center back dari Leeds United seorang Rio Ferdinand yang lahir di Peckham 7 November 1978, memulai debutnya dengan Manchester United pada 27 Agustus 2003.

Terbukti bahwa MU butuh center back setangguh Rio Ferdinand saat Rio terkena sanksi 8 bulan ( January hingga Agustus 2004) tidak boleh bermain membuat MU kembali berantakan dan paceklik kemenangan. Sekembalinya Rio Ferdinand bermain penuh untuk MU, Red Devils berhasil memiliki rekor defisit gol paling baik dari the big four.

Begitu bersyukurnya gw, MU memiliki Rio Ferdinand, makanya anak gw kasih nama :
ALDINO (SAT)RIO FERDINAND

Aldino = ALhamdulillah DIa NOngol yaitu Rio Ferdinand

yang utama sih Alhamdulillah anak gw lahir dengan sehat setelah menanti 2 thn lewat.