Thursday, 2nd October, 2014



Ex-Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand says he was in disbelief when he was told about Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement as the club's manager last year.

The Scotsman had been at the helm of Old Trafford for 27 years, guiding his men to 13 Premier League trophies and winning the Champions League twice amongst other titles, before announcing the end of his managerial career aged 71.



"It was a shock", Ferdinand, who spent his 11th season at Manchester United at the time, revealed on the Clare Balding Show which airs at 10pm on BT Sport 2 this Friday.

"We walked in in the morning and it was all in the papers – but you never believe the papers. So we were all debating: what's going on, is it true, it can't be – we haven't heard anything."

 


And Ferdinand pointed out that even after a meeting between the players and the manager, many of his team-mates were still seemingly in shock, unable to grasp their gaffer's decision, with Robin van Persie, who had only recently made the move to Old Trafford, particularly disappointed.

"A meeting got called at 9 o'clock in the morning in the changing room. So [Ferguson] ended up telling us and you could just look around in the room and see in all the lads' faces, like no chance, this isn't real, surely.

"I remember looking at Robin van Persie", the 35-year-old added, "who had just signed for Arsenal and had just won his first league title, seeing the disbelief and the real disappointment in seeing the manager leave."

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After Ferguson's departure, Ferdinand spent only another season with the Red Devils before signing for Queens Park Rangers on a one-year contract in July this year. He accumulated 312 league appearances in his 12 seasons at Manchester United.

To see the full interview with Rio Ferdinand watch The Clare Balding Show on BT Sport 2 at 10.00pm this Friday.

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