Rio Ferdinand is following in the shoes of England team mates David Beckham and David James in transferring his on-pitch skills to the world of modelling.
The hunky Manchester United star has signed a three-year contract to be the face of trendy shirt manufacturer Ben Sherman. Through the deal he also receives a personal stake in the company, which is best-selling British shirt brand in the US.
Being courted by the brand must be especially sweet for Peckham-born Rio who as a youngster used to get refused by London's upmarket stores. "As a kid me and my mates used to go up to Bond Street and look in the windows," he admits. "We were always turned away by the doorman because we looked too poor."
"But fashion has always been in my genes," he adds. "I think I inherited it from my dad. He's a tailor and always had a good eye for value, cut and fit. I think he fancied himself as a bit of a suave."
Rio is not alone in using his footballing physique for promotional purposes, as more and more of his peers sign up to advertise designer labels. Becks enjoyed a stint as the face of Police sunglasses, while goalkeeper James proved a dramatically athletic clothes horse for Armani underwear. The inimitable footballer-turned-movie star Vinnie Jones has also taken a stylish turn by signing up to model Burton's new menswear range.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
