A CAREER IN KITS: LES FERDINAND
Sir Les. Perpetual scorer of goals. Habitual feather ruffler of defenders. All round gentleman.
If you grew up in the 90s, there were a handful of things that were reassuring staples of life: Gladiators on a Saturday night, having a mate in your class who had a Global Hypercolour tee-shirt, the Argos Catalogue, Sunny Delight... and Big Les smashing them in for QPR, Tottenham and Newcastle on a very regular basis.
The word unplayable gets used far too often these days - but Les was unplayable: quick, skilful, tough, elegant, lethal. He wore some great shirts, too - so here's his career in kits.
Offered his first professional contract with Hayes F.C, Ferdinand was spotted by Queens Park Rangers and moved there for £50,000. In 1988 Ferdinand was loaned out to Brentford and Turkish side, Besiktas.
Whilst on loan at Besiktas, Ferdinand scored 14 goals in 24 appearances. He also helped the club to go on and win the Turkish cup.
QPR – 1987-1995
Returning to QPR at the beginning of the 1989/90 season, Ferdinand made nine appearances for the club in the old first division.
It was in the 1992/93 season (and the launch of the premier league) that Ferdinand made a name for himself. Scoring 20 goals in 37 games helping QPR finish fifth in the league.
After 163 games and 80 goals whilst at Loftus Road, and links with many of the top five clubs, Ferdinand was sold to Newcastle United.
Newcastle united – 1995-1997
Ferdinand joined the 'Magpies' for £6 million, double what the club originally offered QPR some three seasons prior.
In his first season in the north east, Ferdinand scored 29 goals. The 1995/96 season proving to be one of the most famous in premier league history.
After scoring 50 goals in just 84 appearances for the club, Ferdinand was sold to ‘free-up’ funds for Dalglish. He left the club being affectionately known as ‘Sir Les’.
Tottenham Hotspur – 1997-2003
From the North East to North London – Ferdinand was sold to the club he supported as a boy. In 1997 Les was bought by Tottenham Hotspur for £6 million.
Despite his first season being hampered by injuries, his partnership with Klinsmann saved the club from relegation.
In 1999, Ferdinand helped spurs win the league cup – defeating Leicester City 1-0 in the final. However, injuries continued to get in the way in the ‘99 season.
The following two seasons at spurs saw Ferdinand go on to score 35 goals for the club. He was also the scorer of the ten thousandth goal in premier league history – against Fulham.
West Ham United – 2003
In 2003, having fallen out of favour at spurs, under Hoddle due to the arrival of a young Robbie Keane from Leeds united – Ferdinand joined west ham for an undisclosed fee.
The arrival of the striker could not save the club from relegation that season. He played 14 times for the club, scoring just twice.
Leicester City – 2003-2004
Ferdinand remained in the premier league by signing for newly promoted Leicester City on a free transfer. He scored 12 goals in 29 games at the ripe old age of 37.
Reading – 2005
After limited opportunities at bolton, Ferdinand joined reading in January of the 2005 season. Like bolton, the veteran striker played just twelve times and scoring once.
Watford – 2005-2006
Ferdinand joined Watford for the 2005/06 season on non-contract terms. However he did not play a single competitive game. He left the club at the end of the season. This time, only to retire.
International Career
Ferdinand made his debut for England in 1993, scoring the sixth goal against San Marino at Wembley stadium.
Ferdinand was a part of Terry Venables’ Euro’s squad, scoring against Bulgaria at Wembley, in a friendly ahead of the summer tournament.
He was also apart of Hoddle’s England squad for the 1998 FIFA world cup in France. Overall, he was was capped 17 times for England, scoring five goals.
443 Games.
184 Goals.
King of Acton.
Sir Les, we salute you.