The Manchester United defender played four times during 2009.

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Rio Ferdinand
Age 31 Date of Birth 07.11.78 
Career caps 76
Career goals 3
2009 caps 4
Manchester United

England's most experienced defender, a figure who has consistently produced for his country throughout the last decade, Ferdinand endured a difficult 2009 that was interupted by injury.

After missing the opening match of the year against European Champions Spain, Ferdinand was fit to be included in Fabio Capello's squad for the double header against Slovakia and Ukraine.

The friendly against the Slovakians came too soon for Ferdinand who was troubled by a groin strain, but the Manchester United defender returned to the England side in time for their first competitive game of the year four days against Ukraine.

The World Cup qualifier would prove crucial to England's hopes of securing a spot in South Africa, and though a late strike from Shevchenko made the Three Lions sweat, John Terry grabbed three points with a vital goal from close range.

A frenetic end to the season for his club took its toll on Ferdinand, a spell that included an FA Cup Semi-Final and a Champions League Final in Rome along with a third successive Premier League triumph would rule the United defender out of England's qualifiers with Kazakhstan and Andorra.

Ferdinand returned for the opening friendly of the season, away to Bert van Marwijk's Holland, but mistakes in the opening period of the game marred a promising game for the Three Lions. Dirk Kuyt and Arjen Robben seized on errors from Ferdinand and Barry to take an early lead, only for Jermain Defoe to lead the fightback with two superb goals in the second half.

Injury deprived England of Ferdinand's services for the victory over Croatia that clinched qualification, but he would return to play in the final two qualifiers, away to Ukraine and against Belarus at Wembley.

In the intimidating Dnipro Arena, Ukraine inflicted England's sole defeat during qualifying through a Sergiy Nazarenko strike. Rob Green had been shown a red card after just 13 minutes, and though Andriy Shevchenko missed the resulting penalty, England's run of eight successive victories was brought to an end.

Ferdinand played four days later at Wembley as England rounded off their qualification campaign with victory over Belarus. His four caps would take his total tally to 76.

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