Rio Ferdinand is leaving Manchester United, with the club having decided against offering him a new contract, so we take a look back at his glittering 12-year career at Old Trafford
22 July 2002 A 23-year-old Rio Ferdinand signs for Manchester United for £30m making him, at the time, the sixth most expensive footballer of all timePhotograph: Gareth Copley/PA2002-03 His debut season sees Ferdinand land his first piece of silverware when the Old Trafford side won the Premiership titlePhotograph: John Peters/Manchester United PLC2003-04 From the highs of the previous season to a low when Ferdinand failed to attend a drug test scheduled to take place at United's Carrington training ground. The United defender had left after training to go shopping, only to remember and attempt to return, but was told it was too late. He did undergo testing the following day and passed. The FA imposed an eight-month ban from January 2004 at club and international level and a £50,000 finePhotograph: Darren Walsh/Action Images2004-05 A dip in form in the latter part of the season, including a goalless draw at Crystal Palace, meant that United had to settle for third place in the PremiershipPhotograph: Tom Jenkins2005-06 After three years and 140 games for the club, Ferdinand scored his first United goal when he rose highest to head home against Wigan Athletic at Old Trafford ...Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesHis team-mates were rather pleased for him Photograph: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty ImagesHe seemed to have now got the scoring habit as he followed this up with a powerfully headed goal against West Bromwich Albion, before scoring a last-minute winner against Liverpool at Old TraffordPhotograph: Martin Rickett/PA26 February 2006 Ferdinand celebrates United's Carling Cup triumph with a T-shirt tribute to Alan Smith, who suffered a horrific injury (a broken leg and dislocated ankle) the previous weekendPhotograph: Tom Jenkins2006-07 Rio won his second Premiership winners' medal as United cantered to the title with a six-point gap over second-placed ChelseaPhotograph: Tom Jenkins2007-08 Another big season for Manchester United saw them beat Chelsea to the Premier League title by two points … Photograph: Tom JenkinsAnd then beat the London side on penalties to lift the Champions League trophy in Moscow Photograph: Tom Jenkins2008-09 Rio Ferdinand's commanding performances at the heart of Manchester United's defence were instrumental in United retaining the Premier League title and also winning the League Cup Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images2009-10 Injuries restricted Rio to 21 appearances in a United shirt, one of which was the 3-1 victory over neighbours City in their second-leg clash in the Carling Cup semi-final Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images2010-11 The season saw Manchester United win the league title for a record-breaking 19th timePhotograph: Tom Purslow/Man Utd via Getty Images2011-12 United's 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield enabled Manchester City to leapfrog their neighbours to the top of the table, where they stayed till March when United went top. They extended their lead to eight points before stuttering form and a 1-0 defeat at the Etihad put City back on top on goal difference. In the last game of the season United won their match at Sunderland but a 94th-minute winner by Sergio Agüero gave City the title Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images2012/13 Rio Ferdinand scored the last Old Trafford goal of Alex Ferguson's reign when he volleyed home the winner in Manchester United's 2-1 win over SwanseaPhotograph: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty ImagesThat was Manchester United's 20th league title and also the 38th trophy won during Sir Alex's reignPhotograph: Tom Jenkins2013/2014 Fans salute the United No5 ahead of his testimonial against SevillaPhotograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty ImagesAfter a season troubled by injury and where he has not been a regular first-choice, Ferdinand applauds the fans after the last of his 455 appearances for UnitedPhotograph: Ben Queenborough/BPI/REX
