Rio Ferdinand reveals he has to use a wheelchair due to football injuries

Ferdinand retired from his career as a professional footballer back in 2015.

The 47-year-old spent more than 12 years with Manchester United, winning six Premier League titles during the first two decades of the 21st Century.

Despite now having been retired for more than a decade, Ferdinand recently revealed that he still experiences serious pain due to injuries picked up during his playing career.

In a new interview with Men's Health UK, Ferdinand said: "I've had a bad back for a long time.

"I've got injuries that I had from my career [...] I was on tablets and injections for six years to play games," he added.

"I get some bad moments of back pain where I have to be in a hospital for a couple of days or in a wheelchair for a couple of days. It's mad, but it just comes out of nowhere."

"I've been seeing a physio for the first time since I retired. He's been doing loads of manipulations and whatnot."

Ferdinand has not allowed those struggles with pain to prevent him from finding success post-retirement however.

The former Leeds, West Ham, and QPR man first spent close to a decade with broadcaster TNT Sports as a pundit, before launching a podcast in 2025.

Ferdinand also appeared on stage during the draw for the 2026 World Cup, back in December.