1978: Born November 8, Peckham. Cousin of England international Les Ferdinand.

1995: Turns professional with West Ham after coming through the youth ranks with the London club.

1996: May - Makes Hammers debut as a second-half substitute in 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

November - Loaned out to Bournemouth.

1997: February - Scores his first goal for the Hammers in a 2-1 defeat at Blackburn.

November - Becomes youngest defender to play for England when he makes his debut against Cameroon at Wembley.

1998: Named in Glenn Hoddle's England squad for the World Cup finals but does not play in France.

2000: Left out of the England squad for Euro 2000 by Kevin Keegan. Smashes

British transfer record with £18million move to Leeds United in November.

2002: Scores first England goal in 3-0 win over Denmark in World Cup second round.

July 21 - Leeds agree £30million fee with Manchester United for Ferdinand, making him the world's most expensive defender.

2003: May - Picks up a Premier League winner's medal as United finish five points clear of Arsenal.

October 6 - Reported to the Football Association for failing to attend a drugs test.

October 7 - Left out of England squad for crucial Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey because of drugs controversy.

October 29 - Charged with misconduct by the FA for "the failure or refusal by a player to submit to drug testing as required by a competent official".

December 18 - Independent three-man panel find the case against Ferdinand proven and impose an eight-month ban and £50,000 fine.

2004: January 20 - Ferdinand begins his ban.

September 20 - Returns in 2-1 Premier League win over Liverpool at Old Trafford.

2005: May 21 - Season ends in disappointment with FA Cup final penalty shootout defeat to Arsenal, leaving United without a trophy.

July 3 - United chief executive David Gill defends Ferdinand against allegations of disloyalty for his failure to sign new £100,000-a-week extension to his contract.

August 8 - After being booed by United supporters in pre-season games in Japan,

Antwerp, Clyde and Peterborough, Ferdinand agrees new four-year deal.

December 14 - Scores his first United goal in 4-0 victory over Wigan.

2006: February 26 - Wins League Cup as United beat Wigan 4-0 at the Millennium Stadium.

June - Represents England at World Cup in Germany.

2007: May 6 - United win Premier League title. But later in the month, they lose 1-0 to Chelsea in the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley.

November 21 - Absent through injury as England lose 3-2 to Croatia at Wembley and fail to qualify for Euro 2008.

2008: March 26 - Captains England for the first time and wins his 65th cap in

1-0 defeat in France.

April 18 - Agrees new five-year contract with Manchester United believed to be in the region of £130,000 a week.

May 11 - United wrap up back-to-back Premier League titles.

May 15 - United confirm Ferdinand has signed his new deal, which will keep him at the club until 2013.

May 21 - Ferdinand captains United to a dramatic Champions League final victory over Chelsea as the Red Devils prevail in a penalty shoot-out in Moscow.

August 19 - Ferdinand loses out to John Terry in the duel to become England captain as Fabio Capello elects to retain the Chelsea defender as his on-field leader. Ferdinand is named as vice-captain by the Italian.

October 11 - Ferdinand is named captain of England in the absence of the injured Terry and responds by hitting the opening goal in a 5-1 win over Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

2009: May 16 - Ferdinand and his United team-mates wrap up a third successive Premier League title.

May 27 - Ferdinand is part of the United team which suffers a 2-0 defeat against Barcelona in the Champions League final.

2010: February 5 - Ferdinand, as vice-captain, takes over from Terry as England skipper after the Chelsea defender is stripped of the post by Capello following allegations about Terry's private life.

March 1 - United win Carling Cup with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa but

Ferdinand misses out with a back injury..

June 1 - Named in England's final 23-man World Cup squad.

June 4 - Ruled out of the tournament, and replaced by Michael Dawson, after injuring ligaments in his left knee in training.