Monday 18 March 2013 14:47, UK
We look back on Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand's career after his England withdrawal.
Rio Ferdinand has had to withdraw from the England squad for the forthcoming World Cup double-header against San Marino and Montenegro. Here, Sky Sports takes a look at the career of the Manchester United defender. 1978: Born November 8, Peckham. 1995: Turns professional with West Ham. 1996: May - Makes West Ham debut as substitute in draw with Sheffield Wednesday. 1997: February - Scores first West Ham goal in defeat at Blackburn. November - Becomes youngest defender to play for England when he makes debut against Cameroon at Wembley. 1998: Named in Glenn Hoddle's England World Cup squad but does not play at tournament in France. 2000: Left out of the England squad for Euro 2000 by Kevin Keegan. Makes British record £18million move to Leeds in November. 2002: Scores first England goal in 3-0 win over Denmark in World Cup second round. July 21 - Leeds agree to sell Ferdinand to Manchester United for £29.1million, making him the world's most expensive defender. 2003: May - Earns first Premier League winner's medal. October - Reported to the Football Association for failing to attend a drugs test, and left out of England squad for Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey because of the controversy. December 18 - Receives eight-month ban and £50,000 fine over missed drugs test. 2004: January 20 - Ferdinand begins his ban, which means he misses Euro 2004. 2005: August 8 - Agrees new four-year deal with United. 2007: November 21 - Absent through injury as England lose 3-2 to Croatia at Wembley and fail to qualify for Euro 2008. 2008: March 26 - Captains England for the first time and wins his 65th cap in 1-0 defeat in France. May 15 - Signs new five-year United deal. May 21 - Captains United to a Champions League final victory over Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out in Moscow. 2009: May 16 - United wrap up third successive Premier League title. May 27 - Part of United team beaten 2-0 by Barcelona in Champions League final. 2010: February 5 - Succeeds John Terry as England skipper after Chelsea defender is stripped of post by manager Fabio Capello following allegations about Terry's private life. June 4 - Ruled out of World Cup after injuring ligaments in his left knee in training. 2011: March 19 - Loses England captaincy to Terry, ahead of Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales. May - Wins another Premier League title with United - his fifth. United lose 3-1 to Barca in Champions League final at Wembley. 2012: February - Rules himself out of the running to captain England after Terry is stripped of the duty pending the outcome of a July trial. Terry is due to answer a charge of racially abusing Ferdinand's brother, QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, but is later acquitted. May 16 - Left out of England's squad for Euro 2012. He later writes on Twitter: "Absolutely loved playing for england... to say I'm gutted is an understatement of the highest order..." August 17 - Fined £45,000 by the FA for acknowledging a tweet which referred to Ashley Cole - who gave evidence in defence of John Terry in his trial - as a 'choc ice'. December 9 - Struck by a coin thrown from the crowd at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium as United claim a 3-2 derby victory. 2013: March 5 - Escapes UEFA action after sarcastically applauding Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir at the end of home defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League. March 10 - Escapes FA sanction for appearing to barge Chelsea striker Fernando Torres to the ground. March 14 - Recalled to the England squad for World Cup qualifying matches against San Marino and Montenegro. March 18 - Withdraws from England squad due to a detailed, pre-planned training and medical programme he had been told to follow to help manage a long-standing back problem.