We are looking at the 15 nominees who have been shortlisted for the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2023.
The three players with the most combined votes from the fans and a Premier League Awards panel will enter the Hall of Fame. Fans can have their say by voting up until 18:00 BST on Monday 10 April.
Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand broke the mould of the no-nonsense English centre-back.
Composed and stylish, he made his Premier League debut for West Ham United aged 17.
After Leeds United made him the world’s most expensive defender and he enjoyed two top-five finishes at Elland Road, Manchester United broke the British transfer record for him two seasons later.
🎖️ @RioFerdy5:
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) March 30, 2023
One of the finest defenders in world football, Rio had a highly successful 12 years with the Reds, forming a number of formidable partnerships in the United defence.
5️⃣0️⃣4️⃣ appearances ⚽️
1️⃣8️⃣9️⃣ clean sheets ⛔️
6️⃣ winner's medals 🏆 pic.twitter.com/X68KrsntMk
Immediately, he reaped rewards as they regained the Premier League title in his debut 2002/03 season.
That was the first of Ferdinand's six titles in his 12 seasons at Old Trafford, including three in succession from 2006/07 to 2008/09. His 504 Premier League appearances are second among central defenders.
Career in numbers
| Category | Rio Ferdinand |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 504 |
| Goals | 11 |
| Assists | 8 |
| Clean sheets | 189 |
| PL titles | 6 |
| Monthly awards | 1 |
What they said
“Rio has been the best defender in the country, if not Europe, for a couple of years. His maturity and leadership have been key factors in the team’s success. He is someone that young players learn from and that more experienced players respect.” – Sir Alex Ferguson
“He was a great player, without a doubt the best centre-back I ever played with. I would say for a time as well he was the best centre-back in the world. He was such a pleasure to play with. To play in front of him, he made your job so easy.” – Paul Scholes
“Now the position of the centre-back is not just about defending or being nasty or tough. It’s about knowing how to play football, control the ball, pass and be more comfortable in possession. This is something that 10 years ago [in England] they didn’t understand. Rio was the first one who did it.” – Gerard Pique
Did you know?
Ferdinand has won the Premier League title more times than any other centre-back.
Although Ferdinand only scored 11 PL goals, three of those came against Liverpool, for Leeds in April 2001 and Man Utd in January and October 2006.
The centre-back kept 189 PL clean sheets, the third-most of any defender behind John Terry (214) and Jamie Carragher (195).