Latest news with #RioFerdinand
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Rio Ferdinand names the two teams who can win the Premier League next season
Rio Ferdinand does not see any major surprises next season when it comes to the Premier League title race with Liverpool and Manchester City his favourites for the crown Rio Ferdinand is adamant that Liverpool and Manchester City will be the only teams with a realistic chance of winning the Premier League next year, snubbing Arsenal. Arne Slot enjoyed a dream maiden year at the helm by guiding Liverpool to Premier League glory ahead of the Gunners, who finished second for a third successive year. City, the defending champions, rallied to finish third after falling well behind the top two midway through the campaign. Liverpool have already made major moves to strengthen their title-winning squad while City have largely refreshed a team that fell below expectations last term. And Ferdinand reckons they will slug it out again for the domestic crown, citing Arsenal's desperate need for a top quality striker. "It's only going to be between Liverpool and Man City next season," Ferdinand said of the title race in his latest YouTube video for ' Rio Ferdinand Presents '. 'Arsenal might kick up a fuss for a couple of months – six months maybe – [but nothing more]. "Arsenal's signings right now look likely to be Norgaard, who is 31 years old, Kepa, who was a reserve keeper at Chelsea, and Martin Zubimendi, but the entire fan base is crying out for a centre forward or a left winger." While Ferdinand is not overly enamoured with Arsenal's transfer business to date, he is impressed with the work Liverpool have done so far this summer after watching them splash out on a British record deal for Florian Wirtz and substantial moves for Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. Join the debate! Who do you think will win the title next year? Let us know here He added: "I think what's not being talked about enough is Liverpool's ability to go and get a player that City were after, Bayern Munich were after and reportedly Real Madrid were also after. And Liverpool have come out on top in that. "I can see it so clearly at the club right now, I can see their whole process and their vision – it's so clear – and as a player, that's what you want when you walk into the club and they're pitching the project to you. "I can imagine Wirtz coming out of that meeting with Slot and saying 'don't take any calls from any of those other clubs, I'm going here'." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kate Ferdinand flaunts her incredible figure in a white spotted bikini as she and husband Rio enjoy 'fabulous' yacht day on sunny break to Portugal
She's been soaking up the sun with her husband Rio on another sunny getaway. And Kate Ferdinand showed off her incredible figure in a skimpy white spotted bikini as she enjoyed a 'fabulous' day on a yacht with her spouse in Portugal. The former TOWIE star, 34, shared a collection of Instagram snaps from her recent holiday with Rio after topping up her tan on the luxurious liner. Showing off her toned physique, Kate posed in her white string bikini with a black spotted print before heading into the ocean for a dip. She captioned her post: 'A fabulous day at sea.' Kate recently shared a selection of snaps from her half-term getaway with Rio and their children, after spending the week in a luxury villa. The podcast presenter is a stepmother to her husband Rio Ferdinand 's three children: Lorenz, 18, Tate, 16 and Tia, 14. And she also has two children with Rio: son Cree, born in December 2020, and daughter Shae, born in 2023. She penned in the caption of her post: 'Half term with the family, we've got Lorenz & Tate back for off season so this was a special one having all 5 kids together.' Other snaps saw her looking glamorous in a plunging dark red dress as she posed with Lorenz and Tia - whose face they don't yet show. Kate also shared a sweet video of Shae and Cree holding hands in a sunny garden as they wore matching swimwear. Kate is passionate about passing on her healthy lifestyle to her kids, who she shares with former footballer turned pundit husband Rio. Speaking to Women's Health recently Kate explained how the teenagers have followed the same fitness path as she did, after she developed a love for the gym whilst in secondary school. 'My school was far away enough that I'd have to take a bus or train to get there, but if I went to the gym with my mum in the morning, I'd get a lift to school with her afterwards,' she explained. 'I fell in love with swimming and training in the gym, and it's something I've done the rest of my life. I like the effects exercise has on my body, but I love the effects it has on my mind.' 'I suffer with anxiety, and feel overwhelmed at times, but exercise is a time for me to think of nothing else other than what I'm doing. And, for me, that doesn't really happen often during the day with lots of kids. I'm always thinking about something! Speaking about her new activewear range for Tesco 's F&F Kate has previously said: 'This is the perfect collection for someone who is on-the-go, whether it's a mum or just someone with a busy lifestyle. We've got everything from your gym clothes to your comfy trackies in there. 'Being with the kids so much, those are the things I wear the most pretty much every day. I literally couldn't live without leggings and a hoodie. And the quality is honestly just unbelievable – I think people will be quite shocked at how good it is.' After being announced as F&F's new Brand Ambassador, she said: 'I'm so excited to join F&F as their new brand ambassador and launching with activewear couldn't be more perfect for me! 'I live in workout clothing wherever I'm on the go, whether that's for a workout or just day to day family life.'
Zawya
19-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Passion Meets Innovation: Hong Kong's Leap into Football's Future
The future of football is being written in Asia. It starts in Hong Kong. World Football Summit (WFS) is set to redefine the global football landscape with its inaugural Hong Kong summit on September 2nd-4th, marking a pivotal moment where technology, culture, and strategic vision converge at the heart of Asia's football revolution. As the Asian football market surges to a remarkable USD 7.187 billion, with digital engagement breaking records and investment opportunities expanding, this summit represents a critical junction in the sport's global narrative. The Asian Football Confederation has witnessed a 20% growth in digital followers, with website page views exploding by 258%—a testament to a market on the brink of unprecedented transformation. "Our Hong Kong summit transcends a traditional conference," explains Jan Alessie, Co-founder and Managing Director at World Football Summit. "We're creating a global platform where football's most innovative minds will explore how East and West can reshape the beautiful game's future." The inaugural WFS Hong Kong, proudly supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, is designed to provide a platform where football legends meet tech innovators. Where East meets West. Where digital transformation isn't just discussed—it's demonstrated. Part of the lineup reads like a football hall of fame, given the caliber of the legends that have confirmed their participation so far. Rio Ferdinand, Manchester United legend Fabio Cannavaro, 2006 Ballon d'Or winner, member of the 2006 WC winning team John Terry, Chelsea FC legend Romy Gai, Chief Commercial Officer, FIFA Javier Zanetti, Inter Milan Vice President and legend Carles Puyol, Barcelona legend and member of the 2010 World Cup winning team Davor Suker, former Croatian FA President, 1998 WC Golden Boot Fabio Capello, former football coach and player Pierluigi Collina, former famous referee and Chairman at FIFA Referee Committee In addition to these global football icons, prominent local leaders will also be taking part in the event. These include: Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Lan Kwai Fong Group John Sharkey, CEO of Kai Tak Sports Park Crystal Wong, Vice President – Asset Management at K11 Concepts Limited The full lineup of speakers will dive deep into the most critical questions facing football: How do digital technologies redefine fan experiences? What are the new investment models in sports? Hong Kong: a new hub for sports development? The general summit themes are razor-sharp: Fan Engagement in the Digital Age Football's Cultural Crossroads East and West: Reimagining Football Relationships Digital Transformation and Innovation 'Hong Kong represents a unique gateway between global football markets," added Filipe Gonçalves, Chairman at Asia Partners IFBD, WFS strategic partner in Asia. "This summit is not just an event—it's a strategic bridge connecting diverse football ecosystems, positioning Asia at the forefront of the sport's next evolution.' From broadcasting innovations to sustainable business models, from talent development to cross-continental investments, the WFS Hong Kong summit will provide an unparalleled platform for connection, insight, and strategic thinking. With an expected attendance of over 4,000 international industry professionals and more than 100 speakers, the event promises to be a defining moment in football's global evolution. A dedicated fan zone will transform the event from a conference into a celebration. Interactive experiences, egaming, football skills competitions, classic memorabilia—this is where strategy meets passion. Global football summit brought to Hong Kong for the first time, proudly supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board World Football Summit Hong Kong 2025 is proudly supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. With the tremendous support, WFS is aimed to elevate the city's positioning as a premier destination for global sports business and innovation. By supporting WFS, the Hong Kong Tourism Board reaffirms its commitment to attracting world-class international events and leveraging the power of football to enhance the city's global appeal, economic development, and regional influence within the Greater Bay Area. This partnership highlights the shared vision of making Hong Kong a central hub for the future of the sports industry in Asia and beyond. Event Details: Date: 2nd-4th September, 2025 Location: AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong Focus: Connecting the global football ecosystem Expected Attendance: 4,000+ international professionals The future of football is being written. Will you read it or write it? Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Football Summit. Contact and media accreditation: Jaime Domínguez - Communications Director, World Football Summit press@ Marta Lop - Marketing Director APAC World Football Summit About World Football Summit: World Football Summit is a leading international organization for the football industry. Through its platform, we organize events across four continents that bring together key stakeholders from the ecosystem, fostering business opportunities, collaboration, and innovation in the sector. Thousands of professionals representing companies and institutions from around the world actively engage with WFS. About Asia Partners IFBD: Asia Partners IFBD is a premier investment IP company specialising in the sports sector. We focus on investing in innovative intellectual property (IP) concepts and collaborating with top-tier players in the industry. Our extensive network and expertise allow us to work alongside the best football players and organizations.
BreakingNews.ie
19-06-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Rio Ferdinand on how his children didn't listen to his footballing advice
As a former England and Manchester United football player, Rio Ferdinand has an exceptional knowledge about the beautiful game. Yet when they were younger, his two eldest sons – both talented footballers themselves – wouldn't listen to their dad's footballing advice, preferring to follow only their coaches' tips and tactics. Advertisement 'Even though I played, when I told them about football when they were 12, 13, 14 years old, they were like 'What do you know?'', he recalls. 'They were listening to their football coach – who'd never played a league game in his life or been a professional – and coming in and saying 'But so-and-so said this dad'.' Footballer dad: Rio Ferdinand (James Cannon/Talking Futures:/PA) It's behaviour echoed up and down the land by kids who think their parents – whoever they are – know nothing, and Ferdinand stresses: 'So it's not just any old parent that thinks 'Oh, my kids don't listen' – even someone who's played at the level I played at, talking to my kids about football, it's the same, they'll listen to someone else. 'Because you're the parent, they see too much of you sometimes, so they don't want to hear it.' Advertisement Fortunately, Ferdinand, 46, says the two boys – Lorenz, 18, and Tate, 16, have started to take his footballing advice as they've got older, and it's served them well – Lorenz is a goalkeeper for Brighton and Hove Albion U21s (currently on loan to Havant & Waterlooville), and Tate is an U21 defender for Brighton too. 'I do think as they mature, they actually start understanding that you've been through this, whether it's education, sport or something else they're interested in, and they do start taking a little bit more notice of you as a parent, because they see the value in what you're saying, and that there's normally a lot of right to it,' says Ferdinand. And while both boys clearly hope their future career is in football, their dad is hoping his three other kids – Tia, 14, Cree, aged four, and Shae, almost two – will talk and listen to him about their future career paths when the time is right. And that's why he's combined his expert football knowledge with his concern for his kids' future to support the Talking Futures Career Transfer Hub, which gives parents access to information on their child's education options, just like football agents have transfer insiders, negotiators and scouts. Advertisement The hub, which has been launched in partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation (the youth and community development charity set up by Ferdinand to create opportunities for young people), was started after a Talking Futures survey of parents revealed 96% feel responsible for helping their teen make decisions about their post-16 options, but over half (56%) don't feel equipped for the job because they're not familiar with newer qualifications like T-levels or HTQs. Plus, 46% say the advice they got when they were young feels outdated, and 39% are unsure about what employers are really looking for today. Ferdinand says: 'I think in most families you can talk about the stuff you like – music, entertainment, football, sports or whatever, and they're good, easy conversations, but a lot of the time when you're talking about education with your kids, as a parent you haven't really got a complete understanding of what's available, and your kids normally don't really want to talk to you about it, and they're not bothered about it as much as you'd like them to be.' Ferdinand – whose eldest three children were with his first wife Rebecca Ellison, who died from breast cancer in 2015, and two youngest are with his second wife Kate – admits he didn't know much about the post-16 education pathway before looking at the Talking Futures website, where he says 'you get filled with so much information, and get a lot of guidance, giving you the right steps available for your kids, but also educating yourself as a parent so you can then enable your kids to understand what's available and the avenues they can go down. Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kate Ferdinand (@xkateferdinand) 'It's about loading yourself up with all the answers for your child and for yourself to make sure no stone's left unturned. So when your kid makes a decision, they're going into it with a full understanding, having exhausted all the avenues and knowing they're ready to go. 'And that's a big confidence booster for a young person – most of them don't have an idea of what they want to do.' Ferdinand says his 14-year-old daughter Tia doesn't know what she wants to do after school yet – although it's unlikely to be anything to do with football, as living in such a fanatical footy household has 'turned her off it', he says with a smile. 'She's not got a clue what she wants to do,' he says, 'so that's why I can talk with complete confidence and understanding of a lot of parents sitting with their kids going 'we don't know what to do'. Advertisement 'So my daughter – do you push her down a certain route? Do you just give her the options? Do you make her understand a bit more what there is to be done? There's all these questions – it's definitely pricked my mind as a parent to approach these now so she's not going into her final year at school in even more unknown territory.' He adds: 'The problem is, for us as parents, we're used to what the post-16 pathway was like back in the day, when it was very limited, whereas now it opens them up to so many different industries and new stuff. 'So I think it's a valuable insight for parents to just have a look at what's available for their kids, and you'll go actually – surprisingly – there's a lot more at the fingertips of these kids. It's just unlocking it with a bit of information.' Rio Ferdinand has partnered with Talking Futures to launch the Career Transfer Hub , giving parents access to information on their child's education options.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Rio Ferdinand claims that £64m striker is 'waiting' for Man United to submit an offer - as Ruben Amorim looks to complete revamped attack
Rio Ferdinand believes that Victor Osimhen is 'waiting' for Manchester United to come in with an offer for him this summer. The Nigeria star looked to be close to joining Al-Hilal from Napoli after spending the season on loan with Galatasaray and pipping Jose Mourinho 's Fenerbahce side to the Super Lig crown. However reports suggest that the move to the Saudi Pro League is now off, leaving him once again back to square one seemingly. Meanwhile, United are looking to continue their summer rebuild after completing the signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves last month. The Red Devils, who endured their worst-ever Premier League campaign last term, have been working on a deal to sign Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo. Even with those two additions, signing a No 9 is still a priority, given the confidence and quality issues that plagued Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee last season. Ferdinand believes that the perfect man for the job is Osimhen, who is understood to have a release clause of £64million. The Nigeria star looked to be close to joining Al-Hilal from Napoli after spending the season on loan with Galatasaray 'No.9, they already know who I want,' he said on Rio Ferdinand Presents. 'The comments know, the people know who I want, who I would go and get: Osimhen! 'It looks like he's turned down Al-Hilal… he must be waiting for Manchester United. 'I don't know if Manchester United are going to come. That's the problem.' Ruben Amorim's men have also been linked with a move for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, who has a stunning record in Portugal since his arrival two years ago. But his 54 goals and 12 assists in 52 matches don't appear to have impressed the United legend much. Ferdinand shared his view that the Swedish striker is 'not the guy' for the Old Trafford club. 'I don't think he's the guy,' said Ferdinand on his podcast earlier this month. 'I've not watched him loads [but] I've watched him probably three times really, really closely. 'And three times I've gone, "He ain't getting that opportunity in the Prem". When I see him physically matched, what else is there? 'Is there enough - after he's physically matched - to get him a goal?' Gyokeres has a €100m (£84m) release clause in his Sporting contract, but he is understood to have reached a gentleman's agreement with the club at the start of the season over a reduced asking price. The forward was promised that he could leave Sporting this summer for €60m (£51m), plus €10m (£8m) in add-ons, to take the overall transfer fee down to £59m. However, according to Portuguese outlet Record, Sporting's board are now seeking in the region of €80m (£67m) before allowing Gyokeres to move on.
