Anton Ferdinand

Anton Ferdinand

Anton Julian Ferdinand is an English former footballer who most recently played for St Mirren as a centre back. He was a product of the West Ham United academy and has played for their senior team, Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland, Bursaspor, Antalyaspor and Reading. He has also played for England at under-21 level. 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.

About Anton Ferdinand in brief

Summary Anton FerdinandAnton Julian Ferdinand is an English former footballer who most recently played for St Mirren as a centre back. He was a product of the West Ham United academy and has played for their senior team, Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland, Bursaspor, Antalyaspor and Reading. He has also played for England at under-21 level. Ferdinand retired from professional football in July 2019. Ferdinand was born in Peckham, Greater London, to Janice from Ireland and Julian from Saint Lucia. His brother, Rio, played for West Ham and Manchester United. His cousin, Les, is a former England international. 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. In March 2007 it was revealed that Ferdinand had been fined two weeks’ wages for lying about his whereabouts. Ferdinand alleged racial abuse by Chelsea captain, John Terry, during a match between QPR and Chelsea in October 2011. Terry was charged by The Football Association with using abusive and insulting words and behaviour towards Ferdinand. In September 2012, after a four-day hearing, he was found guilty and fined £220,000 by the FA. In January 2013, Ferdinand was banned for four games by the Championship after being found guilty of breaching the FA Rule E3, E3(3) on race and colour to contrary to the contrary to race. He entered a plea at Loftus Road on 13 July 2013, and was acquitted, following a trial, on July 13, 2013, following the court hearing.

Ferdinand is the brother of former England captain, Rio Ferdinand, and cousin Les, who played for Manchester United and England at Under 21 level. He is also the nephew of ex-England international, Alan Pardew, and is the son of former Manchester City manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Ferdinand has been described as a ‘great player’ by former England manager Roy Keane. Ferdinand’s last goal 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. In the 2006 FA Cup Final against Liverpool in Cardiff, Ferdinand fell to his knees after missing the decisive penalty in the shoot out. Ferdinand made his debut on 12 September, playing the full 90 minutes, alongside Danny Gabbidon in a 0–0 draw with Newcastle United. He signed a three-year contract extension with the club in July 2005. On 27 August 2008, Ferdinand signed for Sunderland for an undisclosed fee on a 4-year deal. He made his Sunderland debut against Newcastle United on 27 September 2008. 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. In July 2009, Ferdinand switched from number 26 to number 5. Ferdinand played in the 1–0 win over Preston North End in the Capital One Cup final.