Rio Ferdinand announces his retirement from football following a hugely successful career with Manchester United and England

Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has announced his retirement from football following his release from Queens Park Rangers.

Ferdinand's decision to hang up his boots comes in the wake of his wife's sudden death at the beginning of May.

The 36-year-old, who announced his decision live on BT Sport, recently took to Twitter to thank those who wished him well after the passing of cancer sufferer Rebecca, who he has three children with.

Rio Ferdinand has announced his retirement football following his release from Queens Park Rangers

Ferdinand captained Manchester United to a Champions League final win against Chelsea in May 2008 

Ferdinand's wife Rebecca (pictured) died after a short battle with cancer at the beginning of May

Ferdinand poses with his late wife Rebecca at Manchester United's end of season player awards in 2013

Rebecca had three children - Lorenz, Tate and Tia - with former England international Ferdinand

The former Red Devils ace, pictured in May 2003, won six Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford

Ferdinand poses with then Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson upon signing for the club in 2002

Ferdinand labelled former boss Sir Alex Ferguson a 'genius' in a statement on his decision to retire and spoke of his pride of representing his country.

He said: 'After 18 years as a professional footballer I now feel it's the right time for me to retire from the game that I love.

'Winning trophies over my 13 years at Manchester United, allowed me to achieve everything that I desired in football. From a young child to today, that was all I cared about. None of that would have been possible, without the genius of one man, Sir Alex Ferguson.

'I'd also like to thank and pay tribute to my late wife Rebecca and my family, including my mother and father, for their sacrifices, their encouragement and their advice throughout my career.' 

Ferdinand, who made his senior debut at West Ham in May 1996, won six Barclays Premier League titles during his time at Manchester United.

Manchester United forked out £30million on Ferdinand in July 2002 to make him the most expensive British footballer in history at the time of his move from rivals Leeds United.

He previously sealed an £18m move to Leeds from West Ham but played just two seasons at Elland Road before joining the Red Devils.

Ferdinand celebrates Manchester United's 2003 Premier League win with then team-mate David Beckham

Ferdinand alongside then Leeds Chairman Peter Ridsdale after being signed for £18million in November 2000

Ferdinand (right), pictured alongside Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp, started his career at West Ham

Ferdinand shakes hands with his younger brother Anton when Manchester United met West Ham in 2005

Ferdinand scored the final goal at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson as United beat Swansea in May 2013

Ferdinand poses with Ferguson and Ryan Giggs with the Premier League and Champions League trophies

FERDINAND'S FULL STATEMENT ON HIS RETIREMENT  

After 18 years as a professional footballer I now feel it's the right time for me to retire from the game that I love. As a 12 year old boy, kicking around a football on the Friary Estate in Peckham, I never dreamt that I would play for my boyhood club West Ham, captain Leeds United, win the Champions League with Manchester United, or re-join my first manager Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers. 

I will always regard the 81 times that I played for England, with immense pride. These are all treasured memories that will last a lifetime. Starting a career, every young man needs mentors. I found mine in Dave Goodwin, the District Manager at Blackheath, and Tony Carr, the Youth Team Manager at West Ham. They installed in me personality traits that lasted throughout my career. I will always be grateful to them. I'd like to thank Chris Ramsey, Harry Redknapp, David O'Leary and David Moyes who managed me at various times in my career, all the backroom staff who looked after me over the years, and the players that I played with.

I'd would also like to thank the team who managed me off the pitch, Jamie Moralee and everybody at New Era. Winning trophies over my 13 years at Manchester United, allowed me to achieve everything that I desired in football. From a young child to today, that was all I cared about. None of that would have been possible, without the genius of one man, Sir Alex Ferguson.

His greatest accomplishment in my eyes will always be how he developed us as men, not just as footballers. He will in my opinion, always be the greatest manager in British football history. I'd also like to thank and pay tribute to my late wife Rebecca and my family, including my mother and father, for their sacrifices, their encouragement and their advice throughout my career. 

And finally, I'd like to thank all the fans from all the clubs, for without them professional football would not exist. I will miss each and every one of you on my Saturday afternoons. 

The centre back struck up a formidable partnership with Nemanja Vidic under Sir Alex Ferguson during his peak years at Old Trafford.

Ferdinand captained Manchester United to a Champions League final win against Chelsea in 2008 and he had the honour of wearing the armband for his country.

He was capped 81 times by the England national team before his retirement from international football in May 2013. 

Ferdinand had to overcome a major low in December 2003 when he was hit with an eight-month ban after missing a random drugs test.  

Queens Park Rangers signed Ferdinand on a free transfer last summer but he was unable to replicate the form he had previously shown at Manchester United before being hit with the tragic passing of his wife. 

Gary Neville, who played alongside Ferdinand at Manchester United and for the England national team, took to Twitter to say: 'Congratulations to @rioferdy5 on his great career.

Best I played with and best pairings I've seen with Vida/JT. Covered me very well too!' 

Michael Owen labelled Ferdinand a 'Rolls Royce' while Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers and West Ham paid tribute to their former employee.

Ferdinand, pictured in December 2003 with Manchester United director Maurice Watkins, was banned from playing for eight months after missing a random drugs test earlier in the year

Ferdinand poses with ex-Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp after signing for the club last summer

RIO FERDINAND FACTFILE

1978: Born November 8, Peckham.
1995: Turns professional with West Ham.
1996: May - Makes West Ham debut as substitute in draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
1997: February - Scores first West Ham goal in defeat at Blackburn.
November - Becomes youngest defender to play for England when he makes debut against Cameroon at Wembley.
1998: Named in Glenn Hoddle's England World Cup squad but does not play at tournament in France.
2000: Left out of the England squad for Euro 2000 by Kevin Keegan. Makes British record £18million move to Leeds in November.
2002: Scores first England goal in 3-0 win over Denmark in World Cup second round.
July 21 - Leeds agree to sell Ferdinand to Manchester United for £29.1million, making him the world's most expensive defender.
2003: May - Earns first Premier League winner's medal.
October - Reported to the Football Association for failing to attend a drugs test, and left out of England squad for Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey because of the controversy.
December 18 - Receives eight-month ban and £50,000 fine over missed drugs test.
2004: January 20 - Ferdinand begins his ban, which means he misses Euro 2004.
2005: August 8 - Agrees new four-year deal with United.
2007: November 21 - Absent through injury as England lose 3-2 to Croatia at Wembley and fail to qualify for Euro 2008.
2008: March 26 - Captains England for the first time and wins his 65th cap in 1-0 defeat in France.
May 15 - Signs new five-year United deal.
May 21 - Captains United to a Champions League final victory over Chelsea in a penalty shoot-out in Moscow.
2009: May 16 - United wrap up third successive Premier League title.
May 27 - Part of United team beaten 2-0 by Barcelona in Champions League final.
2010: February 5 - Succeeds John Terry as England skipper after Chelsea defender is stripped of post by manager Fabio Capello following allegations about Terry's private life.
June 4 - Ruled out of World Cup after injuring ligaments in his left knee in training.
2011: March 19 - Loses England captaincy to Terry, ahead of Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales.
May - Wins another Premier League title with United - his fifth. United lose 3-1 to Barca in Champions League final at Wembley.
2012: February - Rules himself out of the running to captain England after Terry is stripped of the duty pending the outcome of a July trial. Terry is due to answer a charge of racially abusing Ferdinand's brother, QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, but is later acquitted.
May 16 - Left out of England's squad for Euro 2012. He later writes on Twitter: "Absolutely loved playing for England... to say I'm gutted is an understatement of the highest order..."
August 17 - Fined £45,000 by the FA for acknowledging a tweet which referred to Ashley Cole - who gave evidence in defence of John Terry in his trial - as a ‘choc ice’?
December 9 - Struck by a coin thrown from the crowd at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium as United claim a 3-2 derby victory.
2013: March 5 - Escapes UEFA action after sarcastically applauding Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir at the end of home defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.
March 14 - Recalled to the England squad for World Cup qualifying matches against San Marino and Montenegro but pulls out four days later due to concerns over a long-standing back injury.
March 21 - Forced to defend his decision to fly to Qatar to work as a television pundit for England's game against San Marino. Hodgson responds by saying he will "wait and see" when asked about Ferdinand's international future.
May 15 - Announces his retirement from England duty.
May 23: Signs a new one-year deal with Manchester United.
2014: May 12: Announces he has not been offered a new contract and will leave United after 12 years at the club.                                                           July 17: Joins Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer following his release from United.                 

2015: May 2: Ferdinand announces his wife had tragically died after short battle with cancer.          

May 30: The 36-year-old retires from professional football.