Reuters

Rio wants to follow Keane's example

Updated 19.57 Wed Mar 26 2008

Keywords: fabio capello, roy keane, manchester united, france, rio ferdinand, england, football, sport

Rio Ferdinand hopes to emulate Roy Keane when he leads England as captain for the first time.

Ferdinand has been chosen to lead the team into the friendly against France in Paris, even though former captains John Terry and David Beckham are both in the squad and Beckham will win his 100th cap during the match.

"To get the captaincy for my country is a dream come true" - Rio Ferdinand

Keane was Manchester United captain during Ferdinand's first two-and-a-half seasons at Old Trafford and together they won the Premier League title in 2003 and the FA Cup in 2004.

Ferdinand said: "Roy Keane was a fantastic captain. He led by example and played ever so well, getting marks of seven, eight or nine out of 10 every game.

"He was a man amongst men and, if questions need to be answered, he was normally the first or second person to do that. He was a great captain and symbolic of Manchester United.

"Now for me to get the captaincy for my country is a dream come true and this is the biggest honour I've ever had."

England coach Fabio Capello has made it clear he is sharing the captaincy among his senior players during friendly matches but he will choose a permanent leader before the World Cup qualifying campaign begins.

Ferdinand has attracted criticism off the field in the past and he missed Euro 2004 because he was suspended after missing a drugs test.

But he does not believe that should rule him out of the running to become England's long-term captain.

He added: "I think everyone goes through ups and downs, not only in their careers but in their lives. It is how you come out of those situations that is important.

"Do you learn, do you take things on board and use it to your advantage in whichever way you can? I feel I've applied myself in the right manner whenever a situation has gone against me - and I will continue to do that.

"What do I say to people who say I shouldn't be captain? The easiest way to say it is the past is the past. People move on in their lives and mature, step up to the plate and become better people for having been through those situations."