Biography

2008 Champions League winner, with Manchester United.

Is the cousin of former England striker Les Ferdinand.

Was named after Rio Grande.

His younger brother, Anton Ferdinand, plays for West Ham United, where Rio began his career.

Was forced to serve an eight-month playing ban for missing a routine drugs test (January-September 2004), in addition to being fined, by the Football Association

People have an opinion of me from what they read in the papers and the image painted by the media, and I probably haven't helped myself. But my mates and the people close to me know what I'm really like. I'm not trying to paint this picture of a do-goody who never does anything wrong; I've made mistakes and have done things I would change... The stuff in Ayia Napa, the drug test - I would like to change that, but these things happen for a reason to help you learn and appreciate where you are in life. One of the hardest things for me about becoming a footballer was accepting that I had to be responsible for my actions, that I have a responsibility to people and to young kids. That's hard to grasp when you're just a kid yourself. For Michael Owen it was easy, his life was... I wouldn't say simple, but he was quite a mature 18-year-old and he dealt with the bright lights admirably. I was an outgoing kind of child, willing to see things for myself and to get burnt. And I have been burnt, but there's a lot that I wouldn't change as well because, like I've said, I have seen a lot with my own eyes and learned.

Footballers are creatures of habit and for as long as I can remember at United, it was a ritual that we had low-fat chips the night before a game. We loved our chips, but [manager David] Moyes comes in and, after his first week, he says we can't have chips anymore.

Our lives are quite boring. I spend a lot of time watching Coronation Street and Eastenders.

It doesn't matter whether you're a senior or not, if something needs saying to a colleague it will be said.

I've heard people say it looks as if I don't care and I've certainly read that, but the way I play is natural. I don't think I can change it. I know I'm working as hard as the next man, even if it doesn't always look that way.