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Rio: My Story
At last, the most talked about footballer of his generation does his own talking. It's heartfelt, it's raw, it's one hell of story.
England's outstanding player in the 2006 World Cup tells it as it is, from the heart, no holds barred.
This is his explosive story of the good, the bad and the beautiful Game.
England's outstanding player in the 2006 World Cup tells it as it is, from the heart, no holds barred.
This is his explosive story of the good, the bad and the beautiful Game.
470 pages, paperback
First published January 1, 2006
8 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Rio Ferdinand
6 books3 followersRio Gavin Ferdinand (born 7 November 1978) is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and at the international level for the England national football team. He has achieved 70 caps for the English national team while being selected for three FIFA World Cup squads. He is currently the vice-captain of the England national team and stand-in captain for Manchester United.
Known for his physical presence and composure on the ball, Ferdinand began his football career playing for various youth teams, finally settling at West Ham United where he progressed through the youth ranks and made his professional Premier League debut in 1996. He became a fan favourite, winning the 'Hammer of the Year award' the following season. He earned his first senior international cap in a match against Cameroon in 1997, setting a record as the youngest defender to play for England at the time. His achievements and footballing potential attracted Leeds United and he transferred to the club for a record-breaking fee of £18 million. He spent two seasons at the club, becoming the team captain in 2001.
He joined Manchester United in July 2002 for around £30 million, breaking the transfer fee record once more. He won the Premier League, his first major club honour, in a successful first season at the club. He missed a drugs test and was banned from competition for eight months, causing him to miss half a Premier League season and the Euro 2004 international competition. Upon his return, he established himself in the Manchester United first team and received plaudits for his performances, featuring in the PFA Team of the Year three times in four years. More club success followed with another Premier League win in the 2006–07 season and a Premier League and UEFA Champions League double the following year. His importance to the national team was underlined in March 2008 when Ferdinand captained England for the first time.
Ferdinand has two sons, Lorenz and Tate, with his fiancée Rebecca Ellison. His family is known for footballing prowess: brother Anton Ferdinand is also a centre back and former England international Les Ferdinand is his cousin. Off the pitch he is involved with music and television including the brief prank series Rio's World Cup Wind-Ups.
Known for his physical presence and composure on the ball, Ferdinand began his football career playing for various youth teams, finally settling at West Ham United where he progressed through the youth ranks and made his professional Premier League debut in 1996. He became a fan favourite, winning the 'Hammer of the Year award' the following season. He earned his first senior international cap in a match against Cameroon in 1997, setting a record as the youngest defender to play for England at the time. His achievements and footballing potential attracted Leeds United and he transferred to the club for a record-breaking fee of £18 million. He spent two seasons at the club, becoming the team captain in 2001.
He joined Manchester United in July 2002 for around £30 million, breaking the transfer fee record once more. He won the Premier League, his first major club honour, in a successful first season at the club. He missed a drugs test and was banned from competition for eight months, causing him to miss half a Premier League season and the Euro 2004 international competition. Upon his return, he established himself in the Manchester United first team and received plaudits for his performances, featuring in the PFA Team of the Year three times in four years. More club success followed with another Premier League win in the 2006–07 season and a Premier League and UEFA Champions League double the following year. His importance to the national team was underlined in March 2008 when Ferdinand captained England for the first time.
Ferdinand has two sons, Lorenz and Tate, with his fiancée Rebecca Ellison. His family is known for footballing prowess: brother Anton Ferdinand is also a centre back and former England international Les Ferdinand is his cousin. Off the pitch he is involved with music and television including the brief prank series Rio's World Cup Wind-Ups.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 28, 2019
I got this recently from Poundland as it is a bit out of date now. It covers Rio's career up to the end of the 2012-13 season so misses off his last season at United plus his time at QPR. Otherwise it provides a whistlestop journey through his career with plenty of glossy photos along the way.
It doesn't focus on controversy. Another reviewer remarked that they wanted juicy dressing room gossip but there is none of that, plus Rio's drug ban is glossed over: "I was out of football for eight months from January 2004... I just trained my way through it." (Maybe his autobiography covers these more although I haven't read that so can't comment.)
Instead this book focuses on the rest starting with the early years, his time before Manchester United at West Ham and Leeds, his England debut, and even his youth team Bloomfield Athletic is mentioned. Then it takes each season in turn from 2002-03 through to 2012-13, before an "off the pitch" chapter. It includes photos not only of Rio and team on the pitch but also off it with community work he has done with kids, or of photos where he has met famous people such as Usher or Michael Schumacher. And it has been written by Rio himself as there are some little details in there like his first car being a Ford Fiesta and a little bit about his football shirt collection.
I enjoyed it and that was even without trying the free app that comes with the book which allows you to scan certain pages to see videos where you can hear what teammates think of Rio, or what his brother Anton thinks of him, or see Rio meeting the likes of Pele or his video from an open-top bus parade. So for a pound not bad at all.
It doesn't focus on controversy. Another reviewer remarked that they wanted juicy dressing room gossip but there is none of that, plus Rio's drug ban is glossed over: "I was out of football for eight months from January 2004... I just trained my way through it." (Maybe his autobiography covers these more although I haven't read that so can't comment.)
Instead this book focuses on the rest starting with the early years, his time before Manchester United at West Ham and Leeds, his England debut, and even his youth team Bloomfield Athletic is mentioned. Then it takes each season in turn from 2002-03 through to 2012-13, before an "off the pitch" chapter. It includes photos not only of Rio and team on the pitch but also off it with community work he has done with kids, or of photos where he has met famous people such as Usher or Michael Schumacher. And it has been written by Rio himself as there are some little details in there like his first car being a Ford Fiesta and a little bit about his football shirt collection.
I enjoyed it and that was even without trying the free app that comes with the book which allows you to scan certain pages to see videos where you can hear what teammates think of Rio, or what his brother Anton thinks of him, or see Rio meeting the likes of Pele or his video from an open-top bus parade. So for a pound not bad at all.
February 7, 2011
This book was incredible. As a Manchester United fan, he was always one of my biggest idols, and it was devastating when the newspapers reported that he took drugs. However, this book took me to look at what happened from another point of view. It has also shown me the life of a football star, and that at times it is not the perfect life that we think it is.
December 2, 2008
The biography of one of the most successful soccer defenders in the world. The story shows his school days when he was a little boy playing for a little team. Then Frank Lampards dad spots him and then he moves
February 24, 2019
Garbage.
Complete and utter garbage.
Rio somehow completely fails to mention his ban for missing a drugs test but still somehow manages to fill around 20 pages with promotions for some long forgotten online thing that he was involved in.
Set fire to every copy of this you can find to save people from the utter horror of this pile of pish.
Complete and utter garbage.
Rio somehow completely fails to mention his ban for missing a drugs test but still somehow manages to fill around 20 pages with promotions for some long forgotten online thing that he was involved in.
Set fire to every copy of this you can find to save people from the utter horror of this pile of pish.
March 27, 2022
Got merked. Only read it because I found it discarded in a cupboard in the back room of a pub.
Not many autobiographies start with someone urinating, I also enjoyed his teenage horror at a French girl's armpit hair.
Not many autobiographies start with someone urinating, I also enjoyed his teenage horror at a French girl's armpit hair.
April 15, 2014
Some decent insight into some of the controversies that Rio has ensured during his career (up to 2006 at least) but on the whole an average book at best. He'd go into great detail on one subject but others you'd expect to read more about got very little.
The explanation about why Rio didn't go to his drug test "I forgot" was really hammered home as if you'd forget. His feelings on how he was treat was interesting and (in my opinion) justified. But I really didn't need reminding that it was because he forgot.
And it felt strange that we got a couple of lines about his girlfriend's pregnancy and then a whole page and a half about the birth. You'd think he would have more to say on such an important moment in his life. Footballer's books are never the most in depth but there are still better ones than this out there.
If you're a fan then give it a read but don't expect anything amazing. And don't pay more than a couple of quid for it.
The explanation about why Rio didn't go to his drug test "I forgot" was really hammered home as if you'd forget. His feelings on how he was treat was interesting and (in my opinion) justified. But I really didn't need reminding that it was because he forgot.
And it felt strange that we got a couple of lines about his girlfriend's pregnancy and then a whole page and a half about the birth. You'd think he would have more to say on such an important moment in his life. Footballer's books are never the most in depth but there are still better ones than this out there.
If you're a fan then give it a read but don't expect anything amazing. And don't pay more than a couple of quid for it.
June 22, 2012
Just read this, got it for 50p from a jumble sale to give to my brother (Man U fan) but I just browsed one page...and got immersed in it. He's very likeable, his upbringing is interesting, and it was also interesting reading it when he is back in the headlines do much right now. I read it in a day, time well spent.
December 19, 2007
The fact about Rio's life, as footballer and personal.
Nothing special except the red devils he..he..
Nothing special except the red devils he..he..
February 22, 2008
Rio yang blak-blakan. Apa saja ditulisnya :D Somehow West Ham memang sungguh gudangnya talenta-talenta pesepakbola Inggris. Ada bukunya Joe Cole gak sih?
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January 11, 2011ok la
February 9, 2014
Shit book. All pictures. Nothing to read.
February 4, 2015
A good read. Down to earth player who is still playing.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews