Man United legend Rio Ferdinand forced to use wheelchair as injuries mount up

Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand has opened up about the lasting impact of his football career, which has left the 47-year-old requiring a wheelchair at times

Years of playing football at the highest level for Manchester United and England have left Rio Ferdinand requiring a wheelchair. The former United defender's lengthy and distinguished career took its toll through serious injuries, and more than a decade after hanging up his boots, he still requires hospital treatment.

Now aged 47, Ferdinand revealed to Men's Health UK: "I've had a bad back for a long time. I've got injuries that I had from my career... I was on tablets and injections for six years to play games.

"That's affected me. I get some bad moments of back pain where I have to be in a hospital for a couple of days or in a wheelchair for a couple of days. It's mad, but it just comes out of nowhere."

Ferdinand and his family have relocated to Dubai, which he describes as a fresh 'adventure,' and he's adopted new methods to better maintain his physical condition. "I've been seeing a physio for the first time since I retired," he explained.

"He's been doing loads of manipulations and whatnot, and within his building there's also my personal trainer, so he feeds him information about my training. There's a holistic approach to what I'm doing now and hopefully that's going to put me in good stead.

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"Rather than fixing when it's broken, you actually prevent [injuries]. I know my sh*t now. But I'm 47 years old. It took me all that time."

Despite winning 14 major trophies during his career, including six Premier League titles, Rio remains determined not to rest on his laurels. Staying active matters to him as he wants to set an example for his children.

He said: "I've got kids that need to see a work ethic. My kids need to see me getting up and going to work. They need to see me and [my wife] Kate going to the gym. I want them to have a healthy lifestyle and to think that going to the gym or just moving is the norm.

"And I'm not about telling my kids that; they need to see it. But also, if I'm being honest, I have to go to work for my mental sanity as well. I like work; my mum and dad worked. They were grafters. That's all I've known.

"When my kids talk about me, as much as it is, yeah, 'Daddy loves me', and, 'Daddy's done everything for me.' It's, 'Daddy worked hard. He was a hustler.' You know what I mean?"

Life in Dubai with wife Kate and the family offers a stark contrast to the demands of football training back in Manchester. "My life has been governed by the fixture list while playing football and then, post-career, being a pundit," he acknowledged.

"There aren't many opportunities in life where you get time to make a big change, have an adventure, step out of your comfort zone and explore something new. So this is it. This is what we wanted to do."

Rio departed TNT Sports last year to launch his own YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents, which centres on challenging himself beyond his usual boundaries. "I like being tested. I like pressure," he added.

"I had it fine at TNT. I could have signed a new contract at TNT. Easily. But that ain't who I am really. It's time for something new... Because I saw the new world is that linear TV and live football are always going to be there.

"But there's also another world outside the 90 minutes that intrigues me, which I look at like a fan. So I want to know what these guys are eating, how do they sleep, how do they recover? I want to get the public closer to that and I want to be at the forefront of that."

While Rio will always be a legend to Manchester United fans for his footballing prowess, the man he has become post-football is still evolving.

"[I want to be remembered] as someone who worked hard and has been successful in multiple sectors," he reflected. "Whether it's my [Rio Ferdinand] Foundation, which has been going for 15 years, helping underprivileged kids, or whether it's my [Rio Ferdinand Presents] media company or other successful businesses that I've got.

"I just want to be someone who is a doer...who ain't scared of change or failure. Who always stood up for the right things when need be. And if I can inspire other people doing that type of stuff, then it's like, 'Okay, I've done all right.'"

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