Rio Ferdinand, former star of Manchester United and the England national team, revealed that back injuries sustained during his career have left him with serious consequences, to the point of needing a wheelchair and being hospitalized regularly. At 47 years old, the former center-back, who retired in 2015 after nearly 600 games for clubs like West Ham, Leeds, Manchester United, and QPR, is paying the price for years of playing with the help of injections and pills to cope with the pain. "I've had back problems for a long time. I have injuries from my career… For six years, I played based on pills and injections," he confessed. In an interview with Men's Health UK, Ferdinand, who moved to Dubai with his wife Kate last year, detailed the impact that physical issues continue to have on his life. "I've had back problems for a long time. I have injuries from my career… For six years, I played based on pills and injections," he admitted. "It affected me. I have moments of back pain so severe that I have to stay in the hospital for a few days and use a wheelchair. It's crazy, but it comes out of nowhere," he added. To cope with the situation, Ferdinand has adopted a new, more preventive and integrated approach to health. "I'm seeing a physiotherapist for the first time since I retired. He has been doing a lot of manipulations, and in the same building is my personal trainer, to whom he passes information about my training. There is a holistic approach to what I'm doing now, and I hope that puts me on the right path," he explained. The former England international admits that he currently has a knowledge of his body that he did not possess while being a professional athlete: "Instead of noticing when it's broken, you actually prevent [injuries]. Now I know things. But I'm 47 years old. It took me this long." Despite the challenges, Ferdinand remains determined to maintain an active lifestyle, not only for his "mental well-being" but also to set an example for his five children, instilling in them a strong work ethic inspired by his own parents: "I like to work; my mom and dad were hard workers. That's all I knew." It is worth noting that in 2024, Ferdinand had already expressed regret for not finishing his career at Manchester United, opting instead for a final and ill-fated season at QPR. His time in London was a nightmare, with only 11 games in the Premier League and physical and form difficulties, culminating in the club's relegation. In a conversation on the podcast Stick to Football, the former defender recalled an episode with his then-teammate, Bobby Zamora. "He asked me why I was at QPR, as he could see my body was giving in, that I was having injuries and having to push myself hard to play and train," Ferdinand shared, who at the time was also dealing with his wife's illness. The former player revealed that before signing with QPR, he considered playing abroad, but personal circumstances changed his plans. "I spoke with Harry Redknapp, who was the coach, and he said he would manage my minutes, that I didn't need to train every day. I thought I could do that easily, but that wasn't the case," he concluded.
The Pain So Severe That remains central to this story.
The Pain So Severe That remains central to this story.
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