Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand awarded OBE in Queen's Birthday Honours list

Former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has been awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list, it has been announced.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire honour was established more than 100 years ago, back in 1917, and has been awarded to Ferdinand for his services to football and charity. The former United ace enjoyed a lucrative senior playing career, spanning exactly 20 years.

Throughout his career he established himself as one of English football's greatest defenders of all-time, serving United, Bournemouth, Leeds United, QPR and West Ham — the club at which he started his career. He also represented England on on 81 occasions, chipping in with three goals.

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Since retiring back in 2015, Ferdinand has pledged a lot of his time to charity, working closely with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, which was set up back in 2012. It is a youth and community development charity, which works right in the heart of the UKs most disadvantaged communities, supporting young people (aged 10-25), to tackle the inequalities they face.

Ferdinand, who clocked up 455 appearances for United between 2002 and 2014, has also worked as a pundit for BT Sport since hanging up his boots seven years ago. Furthermore, he also helped produce a highly-emotional documentary about coping with bereavement after the tragic death of his wife Rebecca back in 2015.

The former United defender — whose OBE has coincided with the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations — has become the latest former United player to be awarded such an honour. In the past, the likes of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes and Bryan Robson, among others,