Rio role thrills United camp

Red Devils past and present hail Ferdinand appointment

Last updated: 8th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rio role thrills United camp

Ferdinand: Taking the plaudits

We are pleased for him and it's great for Manchester United to have one of our players captaining our country

Sir Alex Ferguson on Rio Ferdinand
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has become the latest person to express delight for new England captain Rio Ferdinand.

The United defender was promoted from vice captain to become John Terry's successor on Friday after the Chelsea skipper was stripped of the Three Lions armband by manager Fabio Capello following allegations about his private life.

Ferdinand, who was in the stands for the champions' 5-0 demolition of Portsmouth at the weekend, follows a long line of Red Devils performers to earn the prestigious honour and Ferguson was thrilled for his 31-year-old centre-back.

"We are pleased for him and it's great for Manchester United to have one of our players captaining our country," the Scottish boss told MUTV.

"Over the years we've had Gary (Neville), Bobby Charlton and Bryan Robson for 60-odd games or something so we're very proud of that."

Natural replacement

United club captain Gary Neville insists Ferdinand was the natural replacement once Capello had decided to demote Terry, given the former Leeds and West Ham defender's years of impressive service at international level.

"It's a great honour to captain your country," said the United skipper. "Rio's done very well for England over a long time and he's vice-captain so he was the natural successor. It's great for the club to have an England captain."

And former United team-mate Roy Keane also hailed Ferdinand as an excellent replacement for Terry for the Three Lions leading role.

"Rio will be a good captain, of course he will be," said the Ipswich manager.

"He's a top player and has been for a long time and he will bring different qualities (to the captaincy)."

The latest praise for Ferdinand's appointment comes after United midfielder Michael Carrick backed his teammateto be a success in his new role ahead of the World Cup this summer.