Due to the same surname, “Ferdinand,” fans wonder if the English former soccer stars Rio and Anton Ferdinand are related. Yes, they are- the two are biological brothers.
Rio and Anton are alike in many manners; let’s take their undying passion for soccer and their entangled controversies as an example.
In comparison, the elder brother, Rio, had a much more successful career as a player.
He even served as the captain of the England national football team in 2010, replacing then-captain John Terry. Later, in 2011, Terry became the captain while Ferdinand returned to vice-captain.
Both Ferdinand brothers started their professional soccer journey as defenders at West Ham United and went on to play with different clubs.
Rio Gavin Ferdinand played professionally from 1995 to 2000 with clubs: West Ham, Leeds United, Manchester United, and Queens Park Rangers.
Moreover, he represented England through U-18 to the senior national football team, joining the likes of Paul Robinson, Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Frank Lampard.
With 81 caps, including four FIFA World Cups (1998- 2010), Rio is the second-most capped player behind Ashley Cole (107 caps).
His younger brother, Anton, spent a decade in England football clubs (West Ham, Sunderland & QPR) before going overseas in 2013.
He played in the Turkish & Thai leagues before his return to England. Anton retired in 2019 after playing for Scottish Premiership side St Mirren for a season.
Are Rio & Anton Ferdinand Related? Are They Brothers?
Yes, Rio and Anton Ferdinand are brothers; both are English former soccer players.
Not only do they share the same surname, “Ferdinand,” but they have the same compassion for soccer. Probably, it is because the two share the same blood.
Rio Ferdinand is the eldest among the two, born on November 7, 1978. As of 2024, he is 45 years old.
His younger brother, Anton Julian Ferdinand, born on February 18, 1985, is 39 years old.
The two brothers have an age gap of six years and three months.
Rio, who stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, retired from soccer in 2015 at 37, while Anton retired after four years in 2019 at 34.
Parents Were Never Married
The Ferdinand brothers were born to an Anglo-Irish mother, Janice Lavender (late), and an Afro-Saint Lucian father, Julian Ferdinand.
Their dad worked as a tailor while their mom was a child carer.
Their parents, who raised them in Peckham, never got married. When they separated, Rio was 14 years old, and Anton was only 8.
Later, Janice and Julian found love with their respective partners. From their mother’s marriage to a guy named Peter St. Fort, they have a brother and sister.
Also, Rio and Anton have three sisters from his father’s side.
The Ferdinand brothers’ mom, Janice, died on July 11, 2017, at 58, after an ongoing battle with cancer. Her demise came two years after the death of Rio’s first wife, Rebecca, due to cancer.
Rio Ferdinand Is Father Of Five From Two Marriages
The eldest brother, Rio, has been married twice and lives with his second wife, Kate Wright. She was born on June 3, 1991.
They reportedly began dating in 2017 and married on September 27, 2019.
Together, the pair shares two children: a son, Cree (b. December 18, 2020), and a daughter, Shae Ferdinand (b. July 10, 2023).
Kate is also a stepmother to three children from Rio’s previous late wife. The blended family inspired her to start her podcast named Blended.
Earlier, the 2022 OBE honoree was in a marital relationship with his then-wife, Rebecca Ellison. They married in 2009 and welcomed three kids: Lorenz (b. 2006), Tate (b. 2009), and Tia (b. 2011).
But after six years of marriage, then-34-year-old Rebecca died of breast cancer on May 2, 2015, at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
Youngest Brother Anton Ferdinand’s Wife And Kids
Anton is the father of three kids with his wife, Lucy Cornell (b. June 20, 1989). They’ve been married since June 4, 2016, and are parents of two sons & a daughter.
The couple had their first child, Flynne, on August 10, 2003.
Then, they expanded the family to five with the welcome of their daughter, Lilah (b. February 20, 2017), and son, Farron (b. February 15, 2022).
There are specifics about their dating story, but they seemingly were in a relationship long before marrying.
Lucy’s Facebook features a picture shared in 2012 with her husband, Anton Ferdinand.
According to the Sun, before Lucy, the former soccer player was in a relationship with Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson.
