Rio Ferdinand says the back injuries from his football career have left him needing a wheelchair - and regularly being hospitalised.
Ferdinand, 47, had a stellar career for Manchester United and England, playing almost 600 matches for a string of clubs and his country before retiring in 2015.
But it seems the injuries he tried to fight off in his career - using painkilling injections and tablets - are now catching up with him. The former centre back and his wife Kate quit Britain to move to Dubai last year and he has now revealed he regularly has to use a wheelchair and make visits to the hospital.
Ferdinand, who otherwise looks the pinnacle of fitness in new images published by Men's Health UK, said: 'I've had a bad back for a long time. I've got injuries that I had from my career... I was on tablets and injections for six years to play games.
'That's affected me. I get some bad moments of back pain where I have to be in a hospital for a couple of days or in a wheelchair for a couple of days. It's mad, but it just comes out of nowhere.
'I've been seeing a physio for the first time since I retired. He's been doing loads of manipulations and whatnot, and within his building there's also my personal trainer, so he feeds him information about my training.
'There's a holistic approach to what I'm doing now and hopefully that's going to put me in good stead. Rather than fixing when it's broken, you actually prevent [injuries]. I know my s*** now. But I'm 47 years old. It took me all that time.'
Rinkachi2221
0
Need to inform the world that he is unwell..
hinbelnrtz
1
All the best
Simpler02
2
My favorite Man U Player of all Time
sozkmorsty
4
they deserve all money they get from football.after their carreer they are alone with their pain.that is why they must choose what they want any club where they have more money.because they are the one who suffer a lot after their carreer...not us fans or manager....may God protect yall
yueklnops
1
ch
puddelpyz
1
natbdinsy
2
football players go through a lot, they deserve every single penny of their wages.
Fobdelnrz
1
so sad
oyekey1961
4
wishing you SPEEDY RECOVERY 🙏.
raecdlmrty
4
I wish you quick recovery.
AFerusmc6546
0
Take one for the team. It's terrible, Rio. I played for 5 good years with painkillers for my shoulder dislocation in the early 80s, and after quitting football, I can only use 10% and experience difficulties with using my arm.
We’re u a professional footballer
vubdlnoru
4
I wish you a great recovery great player
Veuamoptyz
3
Take one for the team. It's terrible, Rio. I played for 5 good years with painkillers for my shoulder dislocation in the early 80s, and after quitting football, I can only use 10% and experience difficulties with using my arm.
chuka1b
1
take good care of yourself mate
racklnsuy
1
...due to, not with, back injuries!
merrydave
3
Get well soon