THE WIFE OF footballer Rio Ferdinand has died – his club, Queens Park Rangers, has confirmed.
She passed away after a short battle with cancer.
“My soul mate slipped away last night. Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London,” a statement from the defender said.
“She was a fantastic loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter. She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration.
“Myself, my parents Janice and Julian, along with Rebecca’s parents Lesley and Stephen, would like to thank our families, friends and my club colleagues who have rallied around in these desperate days, weeks and months.”
“I would also like to express my gratitude for the dedication and expertise of the staff led by Professors Johnstone and Clarke at the Royal Marsden. Their valiant efforts to prolong Rebecca’s all-too-short life will not be forgotten.
Our grief, as a family, is total. We would appreciate being allowed to mourn privately.
QPR’s statement adds that “the thoughts of everyone at Queens Park Rangers Football Club are with Rio and his family at this immensely difficult time”.
The 36-year-old defender – who spent most of his professional career with Man United, before moving to QPR – said in an interview last year that he and Rebecca had “grown up together” after meeting when he was 21.
“We’ve had our ups and downs like all couples, but we’ve had a great time and grown up together,” he told The Guardian.
She not interested in football, which suits me because I can switch off when I come home. No one tended to get married in our family so it wasn’t on my agenda. But when I had kids, it seemed like a natural progression.
He said in the same interview that he ‘marveled’ at their three children.
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