Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 2:44 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 2:45 p.m.
Rio Ferdinand (47), former defender of Manchester United and England, revealed that his back is tormenting him terribly.
The former England international, now a TV pundit, has revealed that back injuries sustained throughout his career have taken a toll on him, to the point where he needs a wheelchair and is regularly hospitalized.
Rio Ferdinand used injections and pills during his career to cope with back pain
Retired in 2015 after almost 600 games for clubs such as West Ham, Leeds, Manchester United and QPR, Rio Ferdinand is paying the price for his playing years by turning to injections and pills to cope with pain.
I've had back problems for a long time. I have injuries from my career… For six years I played on pills and shots
Rio Ferdinand, former English international
Speaking to Men's Health UK, Ferdinand, who moved to Dubai with his wife Kate last year, detailed the impact his physical problems continue to have on his life. “I've had back problems for a long time. I've had injuries from my career… For six years I played on pills and injections,” he confessed.
“It affected me. I have moments of back pain so bad that I have to stay in the hospital for a few days and use a wheelchair. It's crazy and it all comes out of nowhere“, he added.
Rio Ferdinand called for a more preventive and integrated approach
To manage the situation, Ferdinand adopted a new, more preventive and integrated approach to health. “I'm seeing a physical therapist for the first time since I retired. My personal trainer is in the same building, to whom he gives information about my training. There's a holistic approach to what I'm doing now and hopefully that will put me on the right track“, explained the former international.
Rio claims he now has a knowledge of his body that he didn't have when he was a professional athlete: “Instead of fixing it when it's broken, you're actually preventing injury. Now I know what needs to be done. But I'm 47 years old. It took me all this time.”
Despite the challenges, Ferdinand remains determined to lead an active lifestyle, not just for his “mental health” but also to set an example for his five children, instilling in them a strong work ethic inspired by his own parents: “I like to work, my mum and dad were hard workers. That's all I've ever known“.
Rio Ferdinand regrets playing a year at QPR and not retiring when he was at Manchester United
In 2024, Ferdinand had already expressed his regret at not ending his career at Manchester United, opting for an unhappy final season at QPR. His spell in London was a nightmare, with just 11 Premier League appearances and physical and form difficulties culminating in the club's relegation.
In a discussion in the Stick to Football podcastthe former quarterback recalled an episode with his then-teammate Bobby Zamora. “He asked me why I was at QPR, because he could see that my body was failing, that I had injuries and that I had to push myself enormously to play and train“, said Ferdinand, who at that time was also dealing with his wife's illness.
The former defender revealed that before signing for QPR he considered playing abroad but personal circumstances changed his plans. “I spoke to Harry Redknapp, who was the manager, and he said he would manage my minutes, that I didn't have to train every day. I thought I could do this easily, but that was not the case“, he concluded.
