Les Ferdinand

Date of birth08 December 1966
Place of birthActon
NationalityEnglish
Weight85 kg
Height1.80 m
PositionForward

Fondly known as 'Sir Les', the powerful centre-forward was a worthy addition to the hallowed list of Newcastle No. 9s when he was signed to replace Andrew Cole. He became the first United player to win the PFA Player of the Year award and subsequently formed a revered strike force with Alan Shearer.

Les began the 2000-01 season partnering Sergei Rebrov up front for Tottenham Hotspur, scoring with a header in the 3-1 defeat of Premiership newcomers Ipswich Town in the opening game. Looking lean and focused, he returned to the exciting form that he had displayed in his younger days and netted regularly throughout the campaign to finish as the club's leading scorer. Probably his finest performance in a Spurs shirt came in the home game with Leicester City when he almost single-handedly destroyed the opposition defence with three superbly taken goals. Ironically, Les did not get to take the ball home with him that day after a disappointed City defender kicked it into the crowd in frustration, and it was only after a public appeal that he received his prize several weeks later! Strong, pacy and good in the air, he received his reward with a new two-year contract.

After concluding the 2002-03 campaign with West Ham United, Les retained his Premiership status when he agreed a one-year deal with newly-promoted Leicester City in July 2003. He then moved on to Bolton Wanderers with another 12-month contract which was cancelled by mutual consent in December 2004. He then joined Reading with a contract to the end of the season.

Les joined Watford in September 2005 on non-contract terms.

Club history

Team Joined Left Loan / Trialist
Hayes 01 Jul 1986 12 Mar 1987
Queens Park Rangers 12 Mar 1987 07 Jun 1995
Besiktas 01 Mar 1988 22 Mar 1988 L
Brentford 24 Mar 1988 05 Apr 1988 L
Besiktas 01 Jul 1988 31 May 1989 L
Newcastle United 07 Jun 1995 05 Aug 1997
Tottenham Hotspur 05 Aug 1997 20 Jan 2003
West Ham United 20 Jan 2003 30 Jun 2003
Leicester City 11 Jul 2003 30 Jun 2004
Bolton Wanderers 05 Jul 2004 31 Dec 2004
Reading 06 Jan 2005 30 Jun 2005
Watford 14 Sep 2005 30 Jun 2006

Club stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1987-88 Queens Park Rangers President`s Cup 1
1989-90 Queens Park Rangers League Division One
1
1992-93 Queens Park Rangers Premier League 37
20
7
1993-94 Queens Park Rangers Premier League 35
1
16
2
1
1994-95 Queens Park Rangers FA Cup 3
1
1994-95 Queens Park Rangers League Cup 2
1
1994-95 Queens Park Rangers Premier League 37
24
5
1
1995-96 Newcastle United FA Cup 2
1
1995-96 Newcastle United League Cup 5
3
1995-96 Newcastle United Premier League 37
25
4
1996-97 Newcastle United FA Charity Shield 1
1996-97 Newcastle United FA Cup 2
1
1
1
1996-97 Newcastle United League Cup 1
1996-97 Newcastle United Premier League 30
1
16
3
1996-97 Newcastle United UEFA Cup 4
4
1997-98 Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup 2
1997-98 Tottenham Hotspur League Cup 1
1997-98 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League 19
2
5
1
1998-99 Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup 6
1
1
1998-99 Tottenham Hotspur League Cup 2
2
1
1998-99 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League 22
2
5
5
1999-00 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League 5
4
2
2
2000-01 Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup 4
1
2000-01 Tottenham Hotspur League Cup 2
1
2000-01 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League 25
3
10
4
2001-02 Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup 3
1
1
2001-02 Tottenham Hotspur League Cup 5
5
2001-02 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League 22
3
9
3
2002-03 Tottenham Hotspur League Cup 1
1
2002-03 Tottenham Hotspur Premier League 4
7
2
1
2002-03 West Ham United Premier League 12
2
2
1
2003-04 Leicester City FA Cup 1
1
1
2003-04 Leicester City Premier League 20
9
12
1
1
2004-05 Bolton Wanderers League Cup 1
1
1
2004-05 Bolton Wanderers Premier League 1
11
1
1
2004-05 Reading FA Cup 2
2004-05 Reading League Championship 4
8
1
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International stats

Season Team Competition Apps Subs Goals Y R
1992-93 England FIFA World Cup 3
1
1992-93 England US Cup 1
1993-94 England FIFA World Cup 2
2
1994-95 England International Friendly
1
1995-96 England International Friendly 3
1
1995-96 England Unofficial 1
1
1996-97 England FIFA World Cup 2
1
1
1997-98 England B International 1
1
1997-98 England FIFA World Cup 1
1997-98 England International Friendly
1
1997-98 England King Hassan II Cup 1
1


Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.

International matches

Date Match Result Competition Round
17 Feb 1993 England v San Marino W 6-0 FIFA World Cup Group 2
28 Apr 1993 England v Netherlands D 2-2 FIFA World Cup Group 2
02 Jun 1993 Norway v England L 2-0 FIFA World Cup Group 2
09 Jun 1993 USA v England L 2-0 US Cup
08 Sep 1993 England v Poland W 3-0 FIFA World Cup Group 2
17 Nov 1993 San Marino v England W 1-7 FIFA World Cup Group 2
07 Sep 1994 England v USA W 2-0 International Friendly
12 Dec 1995 England v Portugal D 1-1 International Friendly
27 Mar 1996 England v Bulgaria W 1-0 International Friendly
18 May 1996 England v Hungary W 3-0 International Friendly
26 May 1996 Hong Kong v England W 0-1 UNOFFICIAL
09 Oct 1996 England v Poland W 2-1 FIFA World Cup Group 2
09 Nov 1996 Georgia v England W 0-2 FIFA World Cup Group 2
12 Feb 1997 England v Italy L 0-1 FIFA World Cup Group 2
10 Sep 1997 England v Moldova W 4-0 FIFA World Cup Group 2
21 Apr 1998 England v Russia W 4-1 B International
23 May 1998 England v Saudi Arabia D 0-0 International Friendly
27 May 1998 Morocco v England W 0-1 King Hassan II Cup
29 May 1998 Belgium v England L 0-0 (3-4) King Hassan II Cup


Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.