Anton Ferdinand

Infobox Football biography
playername = Anton Ferdinand


fullname = Anton Julian Ferdinand
height = height|meter=1.83
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1985|02|18
cityofbirth = Peckham
countryofbirth = England
currentclub = Sunderland
clubnumber = 26
position = Centre-back
youthyears = 2002–2003
youthclubs = West Ham United
years = 2003–2008
2008–
clubs = West Ham United
Sunderland
caps(goals) = 138 (5)
004 (0)
nationalyears = 2004–2007
nationalteam = England U21
nationalcaps(goals) = 017 (0)
pcupdate = 23:26, 27 May 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 19:42, 20 June 2007 (UTC)

Anton Julian Ferdinand (born February 18, 1985 in Peckham, London) is an English footballer. He is currently playing for Sunderland in the English Premier League as a defender.

Background

Born into a footballing family (both his brother Rio and cousin Les [ [http://www.thefa.com/England/U21s/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2005/11/Anton_heartbroken.htm "Ferdinand: I'm devastated"] , TheFA.com, 17 November 2005. Retrieved 22 June 2007.] are successful players), Anton Ferdinand showed considerable talent from an early age. Like his brother, he preferred to play in defence. His ability in this position led to him being signed to West Ham United's famed academy.

Club career

West Ham United

Ferdinand joined West Ham as a trainee in December 2002 [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=34292 Soccerbase: Anton Ferdinand] , Racing Post. Retrieved 22 June 2007.] and was handed his full debut in August 2003 when he started the 2-1 victory at Preston North End on the 2003-04 season's opening day. He went on to feature in 26 games that season.

In the 2004-05 season, he cemented his first team place with several key performances (including scoring the opening goal on the final day as the Hammers beat Watford 2-1) as West Ham booked a play-off spot. West Ham went on to beat Preston in the final, earning them promotion back into the Premier League after an absence of two years. At the end of July 2005, Ferdinand decided to stay at West Ham by signing a three-year contract extension with the club. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/4731629.stm "Ferdinand signs new West Ham deal"] , BBC news report, 30 July 2005. Retrieved 11 June 2007.]

Ferdinand won the Premier League Player of the Month award in January 2006. In the 2006 FA Cup Final against Liverpool in Cardiff, Ferdinand fell to his knees in tears after missing the decisive penalty in the shoot out.

In March 2007 it was revealed that Ferdinand had been fined two weeks wages (estimated at £45,000) for lying about his whereabouts. Ferdinand told the club he needed to go to the Isle of Wight to visit his grandmother when in fact, he went to South Carolina to celebrate his 22nd birthday. West Ham lost the following game to relegation rivals Charlton Athletic 0-4 [http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2007120462,00.html "Anton suffers Hammers shame"] , The Sun, 16 March 2007, retrieved 10 June 2007.] .

underland

On 27 August 2008, Ferdinand signed for Sunderland for an undisclosed fee reported to be around £8 million.cite news
title = Ferdinand seals Sunderland switch
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/7580244.stm
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2008-08-27
accessdate = 2008-08-27] Sunderland manager Roy Keane also stated after the singing of Anton Ferdinand that he views him as a future England International and belives Anton could achieve this by playing for Sunderland.

International career

Ferdinand was a regular selection for England's Under-21 side, having made his début in a 3-1 win over Ukraine at the Riverside Stadium on August 17 2004. Ferdinand was selected to be part of the England squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship in the Netherlands, and given the number 5 shirt. Going into the tournament whilst recovering from an injury, he made only one appearance, as substitute, in the semi-final against the hosts. The match finished 1-1 after extra time, and in the penalty shootout which followed, he scored one and missed one as the Netherlands won 13-12. This was his final U21s appearance.

Despite having played for England's Under-21s, Anton could still play for The Republic of Ireland due to his Anglo-Irish descent.

Court case

In October 2006 Ferdinand was arrested on assault charges following a fracas outside a nightclub in Ilford. He was charged in November 2006 . [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6173332.stm "Footballer charged with assault"] , BBC news report, 22 November 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2006.] He appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 12 November, 2007 charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray, arising from this incident. It was alleged that Ferdinand had punched Emile Walker. In his defence Ferdinand said he had feared he was going to be robbed of his £64,000 watch and was defending himself. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7092507.stm "Football star 'punched clubber"] , BBC news report, 13 November 2007. Retrieved 13 November 2007 ] On 20 November, 2007 Ferdinand was cleared of all charges as it was viewed that he was acting in self-defence. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7103872.stm "Ferdinand cleared of club assault "] , BBC news report, 20 November 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2007 ]

Statistics

References

External links

*soccerbase|34292
* [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/smalltalk/story/0,13852,1602111,00.html Guardian Interview]
* [http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=772&united=Anton_Ferdinand The Wonderful World of West Ham United statistics]