Ex-Manchester United boss Rio Ferdinand has told how Sir Alex Ferguson warned him about his partying and drinking habits shortly after joining the club.
Ferdinand became Britain's most expensive footballer when he moved from Leeds to the Red Devils in July 2002 for just over £30 million. Despite becoming one of the most outstanding centre-backs in the club's history, the 46-year-old has spoken candidly about adapting to the high professional standards at United on his podcast, Rio Ferdinand Presents.
The former England star revealed his love of partying stemmed from his early days at West Ham. However, after signing for Sir Alex, a reality check quickly came as he had to learn to balance his social life and professional commitments after the legendary Scot advised him to take his behavior into account.
In a conversation with Ste Howson and Joel Beya on the podcast, Dennis Rodman was brought up, the iconic Chicago Bulls basketball player known for his party lifestyle yet crucial role in his team's success. When Howson questioned who would fit that mold during Ferdinand's tenure, the ex-Leeds player admitted it would have been him, according to the Manchester Evening News.
“At one point it was going to be me (as the 'Dennis Rodman of the team') because I loved it (going on a night out). I loved it,” Ferdinand said. “You have to remember that when I played at West Ham it was probably the worst environment to grow up in. It was 'win or lose, have a drink, if you sign, have some more'.” home was like a pub, it was incredible wasn't it, so everyone was drinking, smoking and me and Frank Lampard always looked back thinking 'one day we'll be there again with those boys' and then I'll go to Leeds and the professionalism jumps out, but we went out anyway.
“It was okay because there wasn't a game for 48 hours or more, so we went out at the 'right' times, but we went out and had good, solid whole days. Anyway, then I signed for United and, I know from my time with England the United lads liked a drink, but they were really conditioned and professional at the right times, not crazy, like four times a week.
“So I get there and when I first signed I got injured in a pre-season game before the season started and I was out for six weeks. I went out every night, I wanted to see what the atmosphere was like, what the atmosphere.” But the manager found out and stopped me with one comment: 'Do you want to stay here? You better watch what you do.'”
Ferdinand won six Premier League titles, two League Cups and a Champions League win with United. Yet this remarkable collection of trophies might have been out of reach had he not put in the effort and taken his career seriously, taking cues from some of United's most dedicated players.
“I'd been going out four times a week for six weeks, right, and people in the restaurants knew my name,” Ferdinand added. “They knew me in the bars and I was getting tables, this and the other. I really immersed myself in the culture of Manchester, as you should do when you go to a new club. And then I realized that if I wanted to be successful, because I go into it halfway through when the training starts thinking: 'Gary Neville not going out, Scholesy (Paul Scholes) not going out, Roy's (Roy Keane) not going out, Ruud van Nistelrooy not going out' and the sessions are sharp man, every day I had to rein that in and become much more professional, fit in with the boys, and then my game got better and I grew into a better player.”
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