RIO FERDINAND will walk out for his 400th appearance for Manchester United today after 10 years at Old Trafford.
By SHAUN CUSTIS
If he could play for United for another decade and as many games again he would.
Of course he knows that, with his 34th birthday coming up in two months, such an ambition is hardly realistic.
But if you imagined this Rolls-Royce of a defender was even thinking of heading off to the scrapyard crusher, think again.
For Rio Ferdinand still has far too much to do. He is in the final year of his contract but has no thoughts that next summer will spell the end of his adventure at United.
He said: “However long the manager wants me here, and my body can take it, I want to stay at this club.
“From the day I signed I always said that when I leave United I want to be able to walk out with my head held high and my chest puffed out knowing I did a good job.
“But I can’t say that yet because the job isn’t finished. It is still a work in progress.
“The over-30s at United know how it works, that the club will come to you and offer another deal if they still think you are up to it.
“We’ve seen that with Paul Scholes this year and he hasn’t done too badly has he? So I’m not in a panic, I’m just getting on with it and giving United everything I have.
“I’m proud of playing 400 times for this great club although part of me thinks it could have been 500 if I hadn’t had those injuries over the last couple of seasons.
“That’s another good reason for keeping going to make up for lost time. I feel good now. I’m over the injuries and enjoying my football as much as ever.”
There was a time, back in his younger days, when Ferdinand dreamed of playing abroad.
But since joining United in 2002, the place has held such a pull that he was never interested in going anywhere else.
He said: “I’ve had offers, like a lot of the lads have, but why would you ever want to leave this club?
“There are very few players whose career has got better after leaving United, it usually goes down, not up.
“I have always been aware of that and realised there is no reason to want to play somewhere different. If I was going to move abroad it was more likely in my West Ham days.
“But United has everything, the history and traditions, the ability to win all the big competitions and a stature in the game which is unrivalled in my opinion.”
Since his £30million transfer from Leeds all those years ago, Ferdinand has won the Champions League, five Premier Leagues, an FA Cup and two League Cups but it is not enough and he wants want more.
He said: “If I’m honest I’ll always feel it should have been more because the ones that get away are the ones you really remember.
“That desire and hunger for more trophies never goes in our dressing room, which is why we are so determined to make up for what happened at the end of last season.
“I cannot forget standing on the pitch after our game at Sunderland and the home fans letting us know that City had come back to win against QPR and we had lost the title.
“It is a bitter memory and I don’t want it to happen again.
“The day when I’m in the state of mind where I’m satisfied with everything I’ve done in football is the day to pack up your bags and retire.”
While Ferdinand remains very much part of the United story, he is on the outside looking in where England are concerned.
Manager Roy Hodgson has locked him in cold storage and it is unlikely Ferdinand will add to his 81 caps.
But the less than convincing performance against Ukraine in the World Cup qualifier at Wembley, which England drew 1-1, showed that Hodgson could still do with Rio on the road to Rio.
Ferdinand, guided by New Era Global Sports Management, is not holding his breath. He said: “I haven’t spoken to the manager since he told me he was leaving me out of the squad for the Euros.
“I watch England as a fan now, and of course I want them to win, but my focus is on United.
“I concentrate on performing well in my next match and driving us on to getting that title back. I feel as though I could play 50 games this season.
“I’ve three kids who keep me on my toes and keep me young.”
