Rio admits to heart worry

Rio Ferdinand feared he would have to give up his career due to a heart condition.

Rio Ferdinand has revealed he feared he would have to give up his football career due to a heart condition.

The England international was diagnosed with an abnormal heart six years ago when he underwent a medical as he prepared to join Leeds United from West Ham United.

The 27-year-old admits he thought he would have to stop playing football before he was quickly given the all-clear to continue.

"They did checks at the hospital," said Ferdinand in his autobiography, Rio: My Story.

"I was waiting for them to tell me everything was okay when one of them looked at me all serious and said 'You have got an irregular heart'.

"Had I heard that right? An irregular heart? Bloody hell, was I going to die? At the very least I thought I'd have to give up football.

"My dreams were shattered and my mum nearly passed out.

"One side of my heart was an abnormal size and my blood was being pumped around in a different direction to most people's.

"Four hours later they said it would not be a problem. That was a very, very long four hours.

"They said it shouldn't affect me in life and so far it hasn't. But I still think about it."

Meanwhile, Ferdinand admits he struggles to find any sympathy for former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson.

The Swede is still being criticised for his failure to lead England beyond the quarter final stage of a major tournament and Ferdinand feels Eriksson should be aware of why he is being targeted.

He added: "There was a lot of stuff that went on when Sven was the manager - off the pitch more than on it.

"I think if you're successful then everything else would be brushed under the carpet.

"But he wasn't successful and he is there to be shot at now. Rightly or wrongly, for whatever reasons, people are shooting at him and he's going to have to deal with that.

"Being England manager is one of the biggest jobs in the world.

"He knew when he got the job that he would always be under the microscope. He has to deal with what comes his way.

"I was sorry to see Sven go because I liked him as a person."