Rio Ferdinand and John Terry engaged in a war of words after Ferdinand ranked the Chelsea legend as the fifth greatest centre-back in Premier League history.

Back in 2022, Ferdinand and Virgil van Dijk both ranked the five greatest centre-backs in Premier League history on TNT Sports.

Ferdinand and Terry played alongside for England for many years as they formed a formidable partnership at the back. However, the two had a very public falling out after Terry’s racism row with Ferdinand’s brother, Anton.

Terry received a four-game ban and a hefty £220,000 fine from the Football Association, but he was cleared in court after being charged over the incident.

Despite the two not seeing eye to eye, Ferdinand included Terry in his top five. He ranked the Chelsea icon as the fifth greatest centre-back in Premier League history, behind himself, Nemanja Vidic, Van Dijk and Jaap Stam. He said of his countryman:

John Terry Responds to Rio Ferdinand’s Top Five Greatest Premier League Centre-Backs

Terry saw Ferdinand’s top five and he couldn’t resist making his feelings clear. Taking to Instagram, the Chelsea legend posted a compilation of graphics showing statistics he recorded in his career – including the number of times he made the World XI, captains with the most Premier League titles and his win percentage being higher than any other defender.

Alongside the graphic, he wrote the caption: ‘Opinions are great but stats don’t lie.’

That didn’t go down well with Ferdinand, who responded: “The moment one has to start pushing their own records and stats, it’s really time to start addressing the fragile ego. You’re lucky I even put you in the top 5 after the racism case with my brother, so be thankful you made it.”

Terry refused to back down as he replied: “A fragile ego is putting yourself at number 1. Thanks for putting me in your top 5.”

John Terry Picks His Greatest Premier League Centre-Back Ever

Despite their issues, Terry has recognised Ferdinand as the greatest centre-back in Premier League history. The debate started again when Jermaine Pennant claimed Van Dijk is a much better defender than Terry ever was, a claim that Jamie O’Hara couldn’t fathom.

When asked to give his thoughts on the Double Tops Podcast, Terry said: “It’s not for me to say. I know this clip’s gone viral because Jermaine Pennant’s roped me in. The debate started about me, Rio [Ferdinand], [Nemanja] Vidic, and then all of a sudden it just got isolated to me.

“I think myself, Rio, Vidic… we’re different generations to Virgil [Van Dijk]. I think van Dijk is the greatest in this generation. He’s the best by a million miles in the Premier League and has been for the last four of five years. If it’s me to say, I’d say Rio.

“I don’t think it’s for me to sit on here and go I’m the best. What I will do… I will come out when someone says the high scoring defender and clean sheets. No, no, that’s me. So I’m allowed to defend myself in terms of that.

“But if I had to pick someone, Rio, over time, lonbegvity, what he won. Playing at one of the biggest clubs in the world at Man Utd, that’s the greatest for me.”

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, continues to be a target for darts fans following a series of similar incidents in recent events, with ITV once again forced to take action. The atmosphere towards the Labour leader has intensified over recent events in the Middle East, and fans at Butlin’s over the weekend were quick to let him know their true feelings.

Many members of the public have voiced their concerns that the resident of no.10 Downing Street is harming the UK’s special relationship with the US, as disagreements persist over the reluctance the UK government is at assisting the States as they fight Iranian forces in the Middle East.

You’d think that Starmer would be safe from abuse at the darts, but that simply hasn’t been the case in recent months, and it was no different this past weekend at the UK Open.

Keir Starmer Chants Heard Throughout UK Open

The pinnacle of the tournament was held at Butlin’s Minehead yesterday, as Luke Littler won the competition for a second consecutive year, the first person to do so since Michael van Gerwen back in 2016.

These latest incidents of chanting have transitioned from the arenas to the digital sphere, amassing hundreds of thousands of views on social media. Following the X-rated chanting, the broadcasters, ITV, issued an apology to its viewers, who would have heard the expletive chants such as, “Keir Starmer is a w****r.”

As the conflict with Iranian forces continues to dominate the news cycle, Starmer is under a lot of pressure over the level of logistical and combat support to our US allies. This political friction has now clearly spilled into the crowds and arenas in sport.

Luke Littler Wins UK Open

The teenage sensation’s achievement is not to be understated, as he pocketed a prize fund of £120,000 last night. Luke ‘The Nuke’ was crowned champion yesterday evening after beating James Wade, who also fell short to the young star last year, and was denied a fourth UK Open title that would have put him within one of record-holding Phil Taylor’s five.

The runner-up did put up more of a fight this year, however, having improved his showing from an 11-2 defeat last year to winning five more legs this time round in an 11-7 scoreline.

The champion was interviewed by ITV following his victory, and he was clearly delighted to go back-to-back in yet another tournament.

“This is what James does, he is always behind you. I told him after the game that if he had hit those double tops, it would have been a completely different game. James and I always have a good battle. I said, ‘back-to-back, you can get me next year.'”

Tottenham Hotspur can stun Premier League rivals Manchester United and get one over on them by winning the race to hire Roberto De Zerbi, after holding talks over hiring the Italian.

Both clubs have interim managers in place until the end of the season, although they have had differing fortunes with Spurs in a much worse position than United heading into the final nine matches of the 2025-26 campaign.

Tottenham have lost all three matches of Igor Tudor’s caretaker reign and lie just one point above the Premier League relegation zone, with Championship football next term a real possibility after the north Londoners have gone 11 games without a win.

Meanwhile, United are flying high in third with Carrick winning six of his eight top-flight fixtures at the helm, although he tasted defeat for the first time against 10-man Newcastle United at St James’ Park last week.

Tottenham Hold Talks Over De Zerbi Appointment

The Telegraph reported last week that Tottenham have held talks over appointing De Zerbi as their next permanent manager.

GIVEMESPORT sources had revealed last month that the Italian was willing to travel to London to hold face-to-face talks with Spurs over the job to see if the project would work for him now, having turned down the role previously.

Of course, Tottenham being in the Premier League and Tottenham being in the Championship are two totally different propositions, so Spurs making an attractive pitch would surely depend on preserving their top-flight status.

De Zerbi, described as ‘one of the best managers in the world’ by Arne Slot and ‘world-class’ by Adam Lallana, is open to making a return to the Premier League having left his job at Marseille earlier this year, after his success at Brighton and Hove Albion in England previously.

Spurs Could Stun Man United With De Zerbi Hire

While an appointment is most likely at the end of the season, Tottenham could be forced to make a permanent hire earlier than that if Tudor’s poor form continues.

It remains to be seen whether De Zerbi will be willing to arrive in the next weeks and try and keep Spurs in the Premier League, but if not, it is something that will be more likely if and when they guarantee their spot in the top flight for 2026-27.

Nevertheless, Tottenham know they will be getting a replacement for Tudor in the summer, but Carrick’s success as a caretaker means there is more uncertainty over the permanent position at Old Trafford.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to want to appoint United’s next boss before the World Cup kicks off on June 11, which would rule out the likes of Julian Nagelsmann, Carlo Ancelotti and Mauricio Pochettino, who will all be managing at the tournament.

According to GMS sources, De Zerbi is one of United’s preferred external managerial candidates, alongside Nagelsmann and Roberto Martinez, with the Spaniard another manager set to appear at the World Cup.

If Carrick continues with the same results he’s had so far and secures Champions League qualification, it could be difficult to look beyond him, but Spurs may have the chance to act quicker and more decisively in the coming months for a manager they should be able to land earlier than another candidate in Pochettino.

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