#6 Rio Ferdinand
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Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand had a long and illustrious career barring that one drugs test he failed. Getting a start in the West Ham youth academy, the centre-half progressed to the senior team before moving to Leeds United for a record fee of £18 million in 2000. While immediate success eluded him there, he rose to the position of captain where he caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Manchester United boss gave him his first taste of success when he won the league with his new club in his very first season. Ferdinand had really impressed Ferguson who paid a record £29.1 million in 2002 for his services. His time at Old Trafford was laden with silverware as he became a permanent fixture in the heart of United's defence. Even though he missed the Red Devils' FA Cup victory in 2003 due to his ban from a failed drugs test, he bounced back to be named in the PFA Team of the Year four times in five years.
Thereafter, he went on to win five more Premier League titles, the Champions League, a FIFA Club World Cup and the FA Community Shield a number of times. He was also named in the FIFPro World XI in 2007-08. In his 12 years at the club, he came to be known for his fluid defensive style and represented England thrice in the FIFA World Cup. However, his tenure with United ended in 2014 when his contract expired and he moved to the newly promoted Queens Park Rangers.
After his first season where he made just 12 appearances, QPR suffered relegation and Ferdinand with them. However, the England centre-half was released from his contract which was when he decided to retire from football as well.
