Anton Ferdinand

Anton Ferdinand

Ferdinand playing for Sunderland in 2011
Personal information
Full nameAnton Julian Ferdinand
Date of birth18 February 1985
Place of birthPeckham, London, England
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current team
Reading
Number4
Youth career
2002–2003West Ham United
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2003–2008West Ham United138(5)
2008–2011Sunderland85(0)
2011–2013Queens Park Rangers44(0)
2013→ Bursaspor (loan)7(0)
2013–2014Antalyaspor3(0)
2014–Reading2(0)
National team‡
2003England U182(0)
2005England U204(0)
2004–2007England U2117(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:49, 7 December 2014 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22:00, 24 November 2011 (UTC)

Anton Julian Ferdinand (born 18 February 1985) is an English footballer who plays for Reading. He is a product of the West Ham United academy and has also played for West Ham United, Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland, Bursaspor, Antalyaspor and for the England football team to under-21 level.

Background

Ferdinand was born in Peckham, London, to Janice from Ireland and Julian from Saint Lucia.[2] His brother, Rio, plays for Queens Park Rangers, and is a former captain of the England national football team; and his cousin, Les, is a former England international.[3] Anton showed considerable talent from an early age. Like his brother, Rio, he preferred to play in defence. His ability in this position led to him being signed to West Ham United's famed academy.

Club career

West Ham United

Ferdinand joined West Ham aged nine[4] signing a three-year contract in the summer of 2002.[5] He was handed his first team debut, by manager Glenn Roeder, in August 2003 when he started the 2–1 victory at Preston North End on the 2003–04 season's opening day.[6] He went on to feature in 26 games that season.[7]

Anton with brother Rio in a West Ham testimonial match

In the 2004–05 season, he cemented his first team place with several key performances including scoring the opening goal, and his first for West Ham, on the final day of the season as West Ham beat Watford 2–1 at Vicarage Road to make the play-offs.[8][9] In the Final Ferdinand was a member of the team which beat Preston 1–0, earning them promotion back into the Premier League after an absence of two years.[10] At the end of July 2005, Ferdinand signed a three-year contract extension with the club.[11]

Ferdinand won the Premier League Player of the Month award in January 2006 following his brother Rio to become the first brothers to win the award.[12] In the 2006 FA Cup Final against Liverpool in Cardiff, Ferdinand fell to his knees after missing the decisive penalty in the shoot out.[13]

In March 2007 it was revealed that Ferdinand had been fined two weeks' wages (estimated at £45,000) for lying about his whereabouts. Ferdinand told the club he needed to go to the Isle of Wight to visit his grandmother when in fact, he went to South Carolina to celebrate his 22nd birthday. West Ham lost the following game to relegation rivals Charlton Athletic 0–4.[14] His last goal for West Ham was against Fulham on 12 January 2008, scoring in the 69th minute to put West Ham 2–1 ahead, which proved to be the winning goal.[15]

Sunderland

On 27 August 2008, Ferdinand signed for Sunderland for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal.[16] Sunderland manager Roy Keane also stated after the signing of Ferdinand that he viewed him as a future England International.[17] Ferdinand made a promising start to his Sunderland career in a partnership formed with Danny Collins but Sunderland's poor results at the start of the 2008–09 season saw Keane experiment with several different back four line-ups resulting in Ferdinand being in and out of the side.[18][19] Following captain Dean Whitehead's departure to Stoke City in July 2009, Nyron Nosworthy took Whitehead's vacated number 6 jersey and Ferdinand switched from number 26 to number 5. Ferdinand fell out of favour with new manager Steve Bruce and first team opportunities became limited and he was not initially given a squad number for the 2010–11 Premier League season as loan-signing John Mensah was given Ferdinand's number 5 shirt, but was later given number 29.[20]

Queens Park Rangers

On 31 August 2011, Sunderland accepted a bid from Queens Park Rangers for Ferdinand.[21] The transfer was confirmed on 1 September. He made his debut on 12 September, playing the full 90 minutes, alongside Danny Gabbidon in a 0–0 draw with Newcastle United at Loftus Road.[22] On 23 October, in a match between QPR and Chelsea, Ferdinand alleged racial abuse by Chelsea captain, John Terry, claiming Terry called him a "fucking black cunt" during the game; a claim denied by Terry.[23] On 1 November, the Metropolitan Police announced a formal investigation into the allegations.[24] On 1 February 2012 at Westminster Magistrates Court, Terry was accused of a racially-aggravated public order offence in relation to the game at Loftus Road on 23 October. He entered a not-guilty plea and stood trial on 9 July.[25] On 13 July, after a four-day trial, Terry was acquitted.[26] In July, following the court hearing Terry was charged by The Football Association with "using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards Ferdinand and which included a reference to colour and/or race contrary to FA Rule E3[2]". In September 2012, after a four-day hearing, he was found guilty, banned for four games and fined £220,000.[27] On 9 August 2013, Ferdinand was released by Queens Park Rangers in an effort to cut costs having been relegated to The Championship.[28]

Loan to Bursaspor

Ferdinand playing for Antalyaspor in 2013

In January 2013, after struggling for a first-team place with QPR, Ferdinand joined Turkish club Bursaspor on loan until the end of the season.[29] Ferdinand played seven games for Bursaspor helping them to fourth place in the 2012-13 Super League and a qualifying position in the 2013-14 Europa League.[30]

Antalyaspor

On 14 August 2013, Ferdinand signed for Turkish team Antalyaspor on a three-year contract. At the end of the 2013-2014 season he was released by Antalyaspor.[31]

Police United

Ferdinand was heavily linked with a move to Police United of the Thai Premier League during the summer of 2014.[32] However, Ferdinand denied reports that a deal to join Police United had been completed.[33] The next week, he arrived in Bangkok to sign for Police United on 18 June 2014.[34][35] He and Teeratep Winothai were unveiled as new Police United signings in a press conference on 20 June and he said former QPR team-mate Jay Bothroyd, who plays for Muangthong United convinced him to move to Thailand.[36] The BBC later reported that the move had fallen through and that Ferdinand was in advanced negotiations with Championship side Reading[37] with the CEO of Police United, Samrit Bunditkitsada, being part of a consortium which bought a 90% stake in the English club in July.[38][39]

Reading

On 11 August 2014, Ferdinand signed a two-year deal with Reading on a free transfer.[40] Ferdinand did not make his Reading debut until 4 November 2014. He had been side-lined with a hamstring injury but played the first half in a 3-0 home win against Rotherham United.[41]

International career

Ferdinand was a regular selection for England's Under-21 side, having made his début in a 3–1 win over Ukraine at the Riverside Stadium on 17 August 2004.[4]

Ferdinand was selected to be part of the England squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in the Netherlands, and given the number 5 shirt. Going into the tournament whilst recovering from an injury, he made only one appearance, as substitute, in the semi-final against the hosts. The match finished 1–1 after extra time, and in the penalty shootout which followed, he scored one and missed one as the Netherlands won 13–12.[42] This was his final U21 appearance.

Ferdinand is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland national team through his mother[43] and the St. Lucian national team through his father.[44]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 November 2014[45][46]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United 2003–04 First Division 2103030––270
2004–05 Championship 2913010–30391
2005–06 Premier League 3325000––382
2006–07 310101010–340
2007–08 2522020––292
Total 13951407010301645
Sunderland 2008–09 Premier League 3103000––340
2009–10 2400010––250
2010–11 2701020––300
2011–12 300010––40
Total 85040400000930
Queens Park Rangers 2011–12 Premier League 3102000––330
2012–13 1302010––160
Total 44040100000490
Bursaspor (loan) 2012–13 Süper Lig 7010–––80
Antalyaspor 2013–14 3030–––60
Reading 2014–15 Championship 200000––20
Career total 280526012010303225

Personal life

Anton Ferdinand signing autographs

Ferdinand is a Christian. He is the brother of current QPR and former England defender Rio Ferdinand. He is the cousin of Les Ferdinand, a former QPR striker, and Kane Ferdinand, a midfielder for Peterborough United. [47]

Court case

In October 2006, Ferdinand was arrested on assault charges following a fracas outside a nightclub in Ilford. He was charged in November 2006.[48] He appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 12 November 2007 charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray, arising from this incident. It was alleged that Ferdinand had punched Emile Walker. In his defence, Ferdinand said he had feared he was going to be robbed of his £64,000 watch and was defending himself.[49] On 20 November 2007, Ferdinand was acquitted as the jury accepted he was acting in self-defence.[50]

Charity work

Ferdinand is an Athlete Ambassador for Right To Play, the world's leading sports for development charity.[51]

References

  1. ↑ "Premier League Player Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  2. ↑ Belton, Brian (2006). The Black Hammers. Hove: Pennant Books. p. 282. ISBN 0-9550394-5-2.
  3. ↑ Tyers,Alan (31 October 2011). "Anton Ferdinand racism row with John Terry: timeline". The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Anton Ferdinand". www.fourfourtwo.com. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Anton his own man". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Connolly fires a warning to Roeder". www.dailytelegraph.co.uk. 10 August 2003. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "Welcome to the Wonderful World of West Ham United Statistics – Anton Ferdinand". www.westhamstats.info. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  8. ↑ Pryce, Robert (9 May 2005). "Hammers set up thriller sequel". www.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  9. ↑ "Anton Ferdinand 2004–05". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  10. ↑ Scott,Matt (31 May 2005). "Zamora strikes gold for Hammers". www.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  11. ↑ ""Ferdinand signs new West Ham deal"". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "Anton wins Barclays Player of the Month award". www.whufc.com. 2 February 2006. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  13. ↑ Holt, Oliver (15 May 2006). "Beaten only on penalties, don't ever say these heroic Hammers are just losers". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  14. ↑ "Anton suffers Hammers shame", The Sun, 16 March 2007. Retrieved 10 June 2007.
  15. ↑ "West Ham 2–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 12 January 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  16. ↑ "Ferdinand seals Sunderland switch". BBC Sport (BBC). 27 August 2008. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 27 August 2008.
  17. ↑ Williams, Simon (27 August 2008). "Keane sees England future for Black Cat Ferdinand". www.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  18. ↑ Williams, Scott (30 September 2008). "Collins has high hopes for partnership". www.thenorthernecho.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  19. ↑ Ashdown, John (30 November 2008). "Keane blames man in the mirror for Sunderland slump". www.guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  20. ↑ "No Sunderland shirt number for outcast Ferdinand". tribalfootball.com. 14 August 2010.
  21. ↑ "QPR agree a fee for Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand". BBC Sport. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2011.
  22. ↑ "QPR strengthen with signings of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Anton Ferdinand on transfer deadline day". London: The Telegraph. 1 September 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  23. ↑ Fifield, Dominic (24 October 2011). "John Terry to learn fate after alleged racial slur of Anton Ferdinand". guardian.co.uk (London). Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  24. ↑ "John Terry to face police investigation over race allegations". BBC Sport (BBC). Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  25. ↑ "John Terry denies Anton Ferdinand racism charge". BBC news. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
  26. ↑
  27. ↑ "John Terry banned and fined by FA over Anton Ferdinand incident". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  28. ↑ "Anton Ferdinand leaves QPR by mutual consent as club cut costs". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  29. ↑ "QPR defender Anton Ferdinand completes loan move to Bursaspor". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 January 2013.
  30. ↑ "Bursaspor 2012-2013 : Home". www.statto.com. Retrieved 30 May 2015. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  31. ↑ "Former QPR defender Anton Ferdinand joins Antalyaspor". www.turkish-football.com. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  32. ↑ "Ex-West Ham & QPR defender Anton Ferdinand joins Police United FC in Thailand on 2-year deal". www.101greatgoals.com. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  33. ↑ Anton Ferdinand denies that he has signed for Police United in Thai Premier League | Mail Online
  34. ↑ "Anton Ferdinand on verge of becoming Police United player". The Nation. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  35. ↑ "Ferdinand joins Police United". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  36. ↑ "Ex-West Ham defender Ferdinand signs for Thailand's Police United". Tribal Football. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  37. ↑ BBC Sport - Anton Ferdinand: Reading sign former QPR defender
  38. ↑ Reading FC takeover: Samrit Bunditkitsada to arrive in England this evening - Get Reading
  39. ↑ Samrit Bunditkitsada completes takeover at Reading FC - Get Reading
  40. ↑ "Royals sign Anton Ferdinand". http://www.readingfc.co.uk''. Reading F.C. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  41. ↑ "Reading 3-0 Rotherham United". Sky Sports. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  42. ↑ "Holland U21 1–1 England U21 (aet)". BBC Sport (BBC). 20 June 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2011.
  43. ↑ "Irish pile on the misery for Berbatov". Daily Mail (London). 8 June 2009. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 8 June 2009.
  44. ↑ Moss, Stephen (3 March 2010). "Rio Ferdinand: 'I'm a free spirit'". The Guardian (London: Guardian Media Group). Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  45. ↑ "Anton Ferdinand". http://www.soccerbase.com/''. Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  46. ↑ "A.Ferdinand". http://uk.soccerway.com/''. Soccerway. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  47. ↑ "Anton Ferdinand keeps faith in his career at Queens Park Rangers and hopes to start prayer group".
  48. ↑ ""Footballer charged with assault"". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  49. ↑ ""Football star 'punched clubber"". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  50. ↑ ""Ferdinand cleared of club assault "". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  51. ↑ "Right To Play: Meet Our Athletes".

External links

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