Rio Ferdinand has disclosed that lingering back problems stemming from his playing days now leave him requiring wheelchair assistance and frequent hospital stays.
The 47-year-old former defender, who appeared in nearly 600 matches across his distinguished career with Manchester United, England and several other clubs, opened up about his ongoing health struggles in an interview with Men’s Health UK.
Despite appearing in peak physical condition in recently published photographs, Ferdinand revealed the toll that years of managing injuries through medication has taken on his body since hanging up his boots in 2015.
Ferdinand’s career saw him establish himself as one of the finest centre-backs of his generation, representing clubs including West Ham, Leeds United and most notably Manchester United, where he won six Premier League titles.
His international career with England was equally impressive, earning him recognition as a key figure in the national team’s defence for over a decade.
The former defender relocated from Britain to Dubai last year alongside his wife Kate, seeking a fresh start away from the UK.
However, the physical demands of competing at the highest level for so many years have clearly left their mark on his body.
Rio Ferdinand lives in Dubai with wife Kate
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GETTY
Ferdinand described the severity of his condition in stark terms, explaining: “I’ve had a bad back for a long time.
“I’ve got injuries that I had from my career… I was on tablets and injections for six years to play games.”
The former England international revealed these episodes strike without warning.
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“That’s affected me. I get some bad moments of back pain where I have to be in a hospital for a couple of days or in a wheelchair for a couple of days,” he said.
“It’s mad, but it just comes out of nowhere.”
The admission highlights the hidden cost many elite footballers pay long after their careers conclude.
Ferdinand has now embraced a comprehensive approach to managing his condition, working with a physiotherapist for the first time since retiring from professional football.
“I’ve been seeing a physio for the first time since I retired,” he continued.
“He’s been doing loads of manipulations and whatnot, and within his building there’s also my personal trainer, so he feeds him information about my training.”
Rio Ferdinand suffered with back injuries during the closing stages of his football career
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PA
The former defender emphasised the importance of this integrated strategy, too, adding: “There’s a holistic approach to what I’m doing now and hopefully that’s going to put me in good stead.
“Rather than fixing when it’s broken, you actually prevent [injuries].
“I know my s**t now. But I’m 47 years old. It took me all that time.”
Ferdinand enjoyed a spectacular career in football.
He represented the likes of West Ham and Leeds United before moving to Manchester United in 2002, where he proceeded to win six Premier League titles.
Ferdinand retired in 2015 after a brief spell with Queens Park Rangers and played for England 81 times.
