FERDINAND, Leslie
Role: Centre-forward 1995-date
5' 11"
b. Notting Hill, London, 8th December 1966

CAREER:
Viking Sports/Southall/Hayes/ Queens Park Rangers June 1986 �15,000(plus �590,000 when he joined Newcastle)(Brentford loan 1987-88)(Besiktas(Turkey) loan 1988-89)/ UNITED June 1995 �6m/Spurs July 1997 �6m. Debut v Coventry City (h) 19/8/95 (scored once)
Prior to becoming United's record purchase at the time for a fee of �6 million, Les Ferdinand had been one of the outstanding strikers in the country. Tall, strong, powerful and composed on the ball, he leads the attack with genuine menace. With an excellent all round game, judges consider him one of the most complete English strikers of his generation; Ferdinand's pace, aerial ability and stinging shots are all features of his play. Les was something of a late developer in the game, appearing on the London non-league scene before being picked up by QPR. However, it was not until he had been on loan to Brentford and to Turkish outfit, Besiktas, that Ferdinand was introduced on a regular basis at Loftus Road. He made a huge impact in Istanbul netting 21 goals in 33 games, including the winning strike in the Turkish cup final against Fenerbahce. Then once back in London Les began to impress in domestic football too. Scoring 90 goals for Rangers and reaching the England side, striking on his debut against San Marino, Kevin Keegan tracked his power-play for 15 months before securing his signature, in the end as a replacement for Andy Cole. At once the 28 year-old Londoner took to the mantle of becoming the Magpies' new 'Number 9 Hero'. The spearhead to Newcastle's title challenge in 1995-96, he netted 29 goals and landed the Player of the Year award, becoming the first United player to do so. The following season he shared in a 49 goal partnership with Alan Shearer but in July 1997 he returned to London in a surprise �6m transfer to Spurs, the club he supported as a boy. Before turning professional, Ferdinand had a number of jobs including those of decorator, van driver and car cleaner. Brought up streetwise in Notting Hill of West Indian parents, his cousin Rio signed for West Ham United in 1995, while Les has developed into a first class ambassador for the club; always immaculately turned out and able to communicate with the media, all very much a part of being a modern superstar.
Appearances:
PL: 67(1)apps. 41 gls.
FAC: 4(1)apps. 2 gls.
FLC: 6 apps. 3 gls.
Eur: 4 apps. 4 gls.
Total: 81(2) apps. 50 gls.

Honours: