Read former Manchester Utd defender's statement as he retires from football

Former Manchester United and England defender, Rio Ferdinand on Saturday, May 30 undefined.

Check out his full statement

"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 , captain Leeds United, win the Champions League with , or re-join my first manager at .

"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 , the District Manager at Blackheath, and , 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 , Harry Redknapp, and 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, and everybody at New Era. Winning trophies over my thirteen 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, .

"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 wifeand 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.