Les Ferdinand
Sir Les: Newcastle's prolific striker, partner with Shearer for one season
Leslie Ferdinand (born 8 December 1966) is an English football coach, former professional footballer and television pundit. A striker, his playing career included notable spells in the Premier League with Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers. He also played in Turkey with Beşiktaş and in the Football League with Brentford, Reading and Watford. Prior to becoming a professional player, Ferdinand had played non-league football with both Southall and Hayes. He earned 17 caps for England and was part of the Euro 96 and World Cup 98 squads. He is the eleventh-highest scorer in the history of the Premier League, with 149 goals and he contributed a further 49 assists in the division.
- Key Partnership
- Alan Shearer (1996–97 only)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Ferdinand was sold to Newcastle in 1995 for £6 million from Queens Park Rangers. He scored 25 league goals in his first season with Newcastle, and significantly contributed to the side's getting within touching distance of the Premiership title in the 1995–96 season. In his first season on Tyneside, Ferdinand collected a runners-up medal in the Premier League; the following season Newcastle finished 13th. He scored 50 goals in only 84 games at Newcastle, forming a successful strike partnership with Alan Shearer during the 1996–97 season. He was very highly thought of by the Newcastle United supporters during his spell with the club and is known affectionately as 'Sir Les' on Tyneside. Ferdinand received a standing ovation when he returned to St James' Park as a Tottenham player. He was inducted into the Newcastle United Foundation Hall of Fame on 7 November 2017.
In Their Own Story
Ferdinand received a standing ovation when he returned to St James' Park as a Tottenham player. Trying to put Shearer's number 9 shirt on to complete a lap of honour, he broke down in tears and could only manage to put the shirt on inside out and back to front before being helped from the field. Ferdinand returned again, when he also received a standing ovation, coming on as a substitute at Alan Shearer's testimonial and subsequently scored. He was inducted into the Newcastle United Foundation Hall of Fame on 7 November 2017.
Reader's Guide
Ferdinand's spell on Tyneside was arguably his most successful club tenure. He formed a successful strike partnership with Alan Shearer. He scored 50 goals in only 84 games at Newcastle. He collected runners-up medals in the Premier League in both of his seasons at the club. He was sold to Tottenham Hotspur in 1997 for £6 million.
Did You Know?
- Ferdinand scored 25 league goals in the 1995–96 season for Newcastle.
- He formed a successful strike partnership with Alan Shearer only in the 1996–97 season.
- Ferdinand collected one Premier League runners-up medal, in 1995–96.
- He received a standing ovation when he returned to St James' Park as a Tottenham player.
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