Leeds United fans hate me after I joined Premier league side but I had the best time of my career at Elland Road

Rio Ferdinand can understand the ill feeling Leeds United fans have towards him, but admits his two-year spell in West Yorkshire was the most enjoyable period of his career.

   Ferdinand arrived at Leeds in 2000 as a record £18million signing from boyhood club West Ham United, joining a team at their peak under David O’Leary and playing in the Champions League semi-finals.    The centre-back quickly rose to prominence at Elland Road when he succeeded club legend Lucas Radebe as captain in 2001, leading his side to Europe and the Premier League.

   But the defender’s reputation at Leeds was severely tarnished following a £30m move to fierce rivals Manchester United in July 2002, a period of relative calm before the club descended into financial chaos.    Ferdinand spent 12 years at Old Trafford and won almost everything, including six Premier League titles and the 2007/08 Champions League.

   Many Leeds fans have not forgotten that controversial move across the Pennines and Ferdinand has previously spoken out about the abuse he received from sections of the supporters.    But the 46-year-old still looks back fondly on his time in West Yorkshire.

   “A lot of Leeds fans, because I obviously went to [Manchester] United, hate me and that’s fair enough,” Ferdinand told his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.    “It’s because of a rivalry that I didn’t really understand when I was a Londoner – but now I do. Leeds fans will always say ‘Leeds, Leeds, Leeds’ to me and I think that’s been the funnest part of my career – and there  I haven’t been there long.”

   Silverware eluded Leeds in that two-year spell, but the club achieved great things under O’Leary, who got the best out of a young and exciting squad.    A regular host to European football, Elland Road welcomed some of the continent’s best to LS11, making for some memorable nights.    Ferdinand spent much longer and won much more at Manchester United, but he regularly spoke fondly of his time at Leeds.

   “I liked it at West Ham but we didn’t win a lot, I liked it at Man United we won a lot but with that came a lot of pressure,” he previously told BT Sport.    “So the enjoyment factor is not as free-spirited as it was when I was here at Leeds, where we won a lot in terms of games, reached some good heights, Champions League semi-finals etc, and there was no added pressure or expectations.  with him.

   “We were a young team, all good guys, everyone got along too and I had some good moments here, I really enjoyed my football here, I enjoyed my time, the people were great. Where I lived was great, so  I’ve never had anything bad to say about Leeds. I’ve always been somewhere I’ve always appreciated because it was part of my journey.”