Rio Ferdinand has opened up about the advice he received from Sir Alex Ferguson during his time at Manchester United. Ferdinand, who enjoyed a 12-year spell at the club, winning six Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy, revealed the simple yet impactful words that shaped his approach to the game.
Ferguson’s Simple Advice to Ferdinand
Ferdinand recalled his first meeting with Ferguson in his office. The advice Ferguson gave him was straightforward. Ferguson told him to work hard.
Ferdinand explained he’d been given a great opportunity. He said people would give their right arm to play football for the club. He carried that with him throughout his career, viewing being a professional as a privilege.
He believes those who think they’ve already made it don’t last long at the top. Maintaining hunger, desire, and the attitude of still needing to prove oneself is key. Ferdinand said he wasn’t able to rest on his laurels and didn’t let himself slip into that mindset.
Ferdinand’s Role as a Senior Player
Ferdinand reflected on his role as a senior player at Manchester United. The door was always open with him.
He believes that if you speak to any of the players, they would say he was one of the most easygoing guys in the changing room. If a young player needed to talk or had a problem, they knew they could go to him for advice.
Early Career and England Experiences
Ferdinand spoke about his early career and experiences with England. He made his debut for West Ham at 17, which meant a great deal to him. Playing for England was another significant achievement, followed by becoming a winner at Manchester United.
He recounted an odd ritual he observed while with England. One player would avoid touching the ball at all costs. If you rolled the ball towards him he would jump out of the way and wouldn’t touch it. The players used to just play games and try and make him touch the ball, rolling the ball at him all the time, but he never got the hump and would laugh.
Achieving Career Goals
Ferdinand fulfilled his ambitions as a player. He wanted to become a professional, play for his country, and win trophies. He managed to achieve all three.
He also spoke about a coach who saw potential in him early on. He was a centre-forward but I think he spotted some potential in me. He was always giving me pointers and used to play against me in training a lot, so he would tell me about certain things I should be doing to look my best.
Rio Ferdinand won six Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy during his time at Manchester United.