Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has revealed that a “big part” of his style of play as a player was “nullified” by one former manager’s tactics.
Rio Ferdinand had an incredible playing career at club level and enjoyed major success under legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 45-year-old TNT Sports pundit arrived at Old Trafford in 2002 after he was snapped up from Leeds United for a British record transfer fee at the time.
Ferdinand, who United signed for a £30m fee, became a linchpin defensive figure for Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary Red Devils teams of the past.
The United legend made a whopping 455 appearances for the Red Devils and lifted six Premier League titles, a Champions League and two League Cups.
Ferdinand spent the majority of his United playing career under Ferguson, who called it time on a remarkable managerial career in 2013.
The ex-England and United defender briefly played under former Red Devils manager David Moyes before Ferdinand made his exit from Old Trafford in 2014.
Man Utd legend Ferdinand talks former manager
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Rio Ferdinand opened up about his time away from Old Trafford and on the international stage with England.
The former Manchester United star was capped 81 times for his country and was part of the so-called ‘Golden Generation’ that failed to win silverware with England.
Ferdinand, who represented England at competitions like the World Cup, recalled his experience of playing under former Three Lions boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.
The ex-England international revealed that his style of play clashed with Sven-Goran Eriksson’s instructions and he felt one of his core strengths was hindered.
“I think it was my second or third training session with Sven-Goran Eriksson,” Ferdinand said.
“We were all excited to play for him. Italian football was big when he was there.
“[I remember] coming off the training ground, and he just pulled me in and said, ‘Rio, my centre-backs don’t run with the ball. If you want to play for England with me, don’t run with the ball.’
“And that was my game, running out [with the ball] and committing someone before playing it to the spare man. It really nullified a big part of my game.”
Former Man Utd star Ferdinand on England woes
Sven-Goran Eriksson took charge of England in 2001 and stepped down from his role as Three Lions boss after the 2006 World Cup.
Ferdinand continued to play for England after Eriksson’s departure before he called it time on his international career in 2013.
The former Three Lions star believed that the club rivalry between England players during his time “killed” the success of the international team.
Speaking to The Times in 2018, Ferdinand said: “It overshadowed things. It killed that England team, that generation.
“One year we would have been fighting Liverpool to win the league, another year it would be Chelsea.
“So I was never going to walk into the England dressing room and open up to Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, John Terry or Joe Cole at Chelsea, or Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher at Liverpool.
“I wouldn’t open up because of the fear they would take something back to their club and use it against us, to make them better than us. I didn’t really want to engage with them.
“I didn’t realise that what I was doing was hurting England at the time. I was so engrossed, so obsessed with winning with Man United – nothing else mattered.”
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