Former Chelsea Defender Omeruo Names Manchester United Icon As His Role Model

Published: March 11, 2020

Former Chelsea center back Kenneth Omeruo has cited Manchester United icon Rio Ferdinand as his role model.

The Nigeria international did not cross paths with Ferdinand in the English Premier League during his seven-and-a-half-year association with Chelsea as he was loaned out to Dutch, Turkish and Spanish clubs, and also spent time at Championship side Middlesbrough.

Now 41, Ferdinand is widely regarded as one of the finest central defenders to grace the Premier League, and won the UEFA Champions League, Premier League, League Cup, Club World Cup and Community Shield during an illustrious career with the Red Devils.

On the international scene, he was a member of England squad's to three World Cups, in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

In an interview with Hora Blanquiazul, Omeruo was asked who is idol was as a child and he replied : "I would say Rio Ferdinand, I used to watch a lot of English Premier League games. When I was younger I was a supporter of Manchester United, so I loved him, I loved his style of play".

The Leganes star added : "In Nigeria Joseph Yobo. He played at Everton, captained Nigeria a lot of times, he's a central defender".

Omeruo has played for the Super Eagles at two World Cups and won the Africa Cup of Nations as a teenager in 2013.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel