Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand didn’t hesitate to point out the standout flaw from one part of his prolific playing career.
Rio Ferdinand is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League defenders of all time after his stunning impact during his time at Manchester United.
The 47-year-old former Man Utd centre-back lifted a plethora of major silverware, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.
Despite his major success at Old Trafford, Ferdinand has admitted that there are low points in his career that have not aged well as time has passed.
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Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand’s reaction to England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’ speaks volumes
Rio Ferdinand’s trophy haul at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson did not translate into the same silverware success on the international stage with England.
The former TNT Sports pundit was a core part of England’s ‘Golden Generation,’ which failed to lift major trophies during the 2000s.
The Three Lions had a roster of star-studded names in the Golden Generation, including Man Utd legends Wayne Rooney, Sir David Beckham and Paul Scholes.
Ferdinand recalled England’s time at the 2006 World Cup in Germany under Sven-Goran Eriksson and his feelings on the Golden Generation label say it all.
“I feel embarrassed when I say it,” he said in the BBC documentary ‘England 2006: The Golden Generation,’ as per BBC Sport.
“I don’t look back at that time with any type of happiness.”
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Former Man Utd defender Rio Ferdinand on the divide in the England team during the Golden Generation era
Ferdinand, who made his Three Lions debut under Glenn Hoddle in 1997, was capped 81 times for England and featured at World Cups and European Championships.
The United legend insisted that the stacked roster of England players were unable to come together on the international level due to the friction between their clubs.
“There were cracks with England,” Ferdinand explained.
“There just wasn’t that togetherness. The bond wasn’t as strong as with the club. I’ve got to be honest, there were fake relationships in the England squad.”
Ferdinand added: “With the Chelsea boys… I grew up with Frank [Lampard at West Ham]. We’ve roomed together [since we were] kids… but I don’t want to give him anything.
“If we’re having a coffee… I can’t give him anything that he can take back to Chelsea and use against me.”
Ferdinand bowed out of international duty with England in 2013 before he later called it time on his remarkable playing career at club level in 2015.
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