Agencies
London, October 24
The former England captain and Queens Park Rangers defender Rio Ferdinand plans to retire from football at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old has told Jonathan Ross in an interview to be broadcast on Saturday evening that this season with Rangers is likely to be his last.
“I probably think the end of this season,” Ferdinand told The Jonathan Ross Show when asked about retirement. I’m not fearful of retirement, I’m looking forward to it, I can see some good stuff hopefully happening ahead.”
“You get to a time where you start understanding your body and the strains playing football (is) putting your body through, going out and training every day.”The former West Ham, Leeds and Manchester United centre-back, who has worked as a football pundit, expects to stay involved in football in some capacity and has begun his coaching badges.
“I’ve done it for so many years, it’s what I love,” he added. “I will stay in football I’m sure in some capacity. I’ve signed to BT and stuff and I’ve done stuff with the BBC at the World Cup which I really enjoyed and it’s something I’m sure I will take up and do a bit more [of]. I’m doing my [coaching] badges as well and there are other bits and pieces outside of football.”
Ferdinand was an unused substitute in last weekend’s loss to Liverpool and could be confined to the bench again for Monday’s match at home to Aston Villa.
Adel Taarabt could be offered the opportunity to prove himself to Harry Redknapp after the pair’s public disagreement this week when the QPR manager accused the Morocco playmaker of being overweight.
The defender Nedum Onuoha hopes to shake off a hamstring problem sustained against Liverpool and the midfielders Joey Barton and Jordon Mutch could be fit again after recent hamstring trouble. But Alejandro Faurlín (knee) is a long-term injury absentee.
