Biography
Who is Anton Ferdinand?
Early life and background
Born in Peckham, Anton Ferdinand Julian Ferdinand grew up in the United Kingdom. His parents were Janice Lavender from Ireland and Julian Ferdinand from Saint Lucia. He showed an aptitude for playing in defence from a young age.
He followed the path of his older brother, Rio, by pursuing football professionally. His cousin is the former England international Les Ferdinand. Anton began developing his skills early, which eventually led him to join a major club academy.
Career at West Ham United
Anton became a member of the West Ham United academy when he was nine years old. He signed a three-year professional deal with the club in the summer of 2002. Manager Glenn Roeder gave him a first-team debut in August 2003 against Preston North End.
During the 2004-05 season, he helped the club earn promotion back to the Premier League. He scored his first goal for the team on the final day of that season during a victory against Watford. In January 2006, he won the Premier League Player of the Month award. He scored his final goal for the club against Fulham on January 12, 2008.
Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers
He moved to Sunderland in August 2008 on a four-year contract. Manager Roy Keane initially viewed him as a future international prospect. Later, Anton joined Queens Park Rangers in September 2011. He played his first match for them against Newcastle United that same month.
During his time at Queens Park Rangers, he alleged racial abuse by Chelsea captain John Terry. A legal case followed in 2012, where Terry was acquitted in court. Later, The Football Association found Terry guilty of using abusive language and issued a fine and ban. In 2013, the club released Anton to reduce costs following their relegation. He also had a loan spell with the Turkish club Bursaspor in 2013, helping them secure a fourth-place finish in the league.
Later career and retirement
Anton played for several other teams, including Antalyaspor, Reading, Southend United, and St Mirren. He signed with Reading in August 2014 and left in June 2016. In September 2018, he joined the Scottish Premiership club St Mirren before retiring from professional football in July 2019.
He represented England at the under-21 level, including playing at the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the Netherlands. Since retiring, he has worked as a pundit for Talksport. In 2025, he appeared as a contestant on the television show Dancing on Ice, finishing the seventeenth series in third place. He is a Christian.
Birthday and age
Anton Ferdinand was born on February 18, 1985, which makes Anton 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Anton shares the date with 64 other famous people.
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