Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand, who won the Premier League title on six different occasions under Sir Alex Ferguson’s watch, was one of the most imperious centre-backs in world football during his pomp – and, as a result, there were a number of players who attempted to unnerve him.
It's part and parcel of the beautiful game with players doing everything they can to earn a mental edge on their opponents – but Ferdinand once named a shock England legend who would actively try and get under his skin during their clashes.
rio ferdinand celtic park
Ferdinand, who was capped by England 81 times between 1997 and 2011, played against a host of top-tier centre-forwards during his career, but he was quick to single out a fellow compatriot of his when asked about the biggest trash talkers he faced.
Ferdinand Named England Legend Who He Hated During His Career
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand became the most expensive British player and defender in 2002 when he joined Manchester United – for £30 million – from Leeds United. As a result, every striker that he came to face, including the likes of Alan Shearer, Robbie Keane and Thierry Henry, was keen to show him up.
And he recently revealed which two opponents were the biggest trash talkers. Speaking to ESPN, Ferdinand answered 20 questions – from how much he would be worth in today’s market to whether he considers himself to be among the best defenders of all time. He also named those who attempted to get under his skin.
When asked whether there were ever any opponents who were brave enough to exchange words with the English brute, he named Craig Bellamy – who was a well-known wind-up merchant. Perhaps more of a shock, he also brought up Ian Wright.
“Ian Wright, a little bit. Ian Wright is up there. He was a hero [of mine] when I was growing up, but I didn’t like him,” the defender-turned-pundit said. “We’ve spoken about it loads after. He was just like ‘Listen, this is the game, I’ve got to get in your head.’”
Watch Ferdinand speak about his rivalry with Wright below:
Ferdinand and Wright, by virtue of both playing for West Ham United at the same time, were teammates before they were opponents. Albeit at different ends of the pitch, they lined up alongside one another 20 times for the east Londoners.
Interestingly, in terms of when they locked horns, there were only three occasions – and that was when Ferdinand was still on West Ham’s books. Spanning two seasons between 1996 and 1998, the ex-defender lost all three of his battles against the line-leader.
Ian Wright
Ferdinand has previously explained why his relationship with his fellow countryman was so sour. Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, he recalled an instance when Wright ‘pushed’ him on the head while West Ham had a corner.
“We had a corner and I was staying back on the halfway line marking Wrighty and as they were setting up he was just looking at me and I’m looking over him coz he’s only small, and he was looking at me trying to be a wind-up all screw-facing me and then he pushed me in my head and I pushed his hands away and said ‘ what are you doing?’ and he was just laughing, and I thought I hate this guy."
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On returning to his friends in the wake of their meeting, he continued: "I finished the game and I remember I went back to my mates on the estate and saying 'I can’t stand Wrighty, he ain’t what we thought he was man, the way he treated me like that.'
"It wasn’t until a year or so later when I met him again with England, where he said 'Nah man, that’s the game, that’s what we do! I’ve got to get under your skin!’, and I was like I see, I’ve got it now. He was just a different guy,” Ferdinand concluded.