View source for Les Ferdinand

{{short description|English footballer and manager (born 1966)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Les Ferdinand MBE
| image = LesFerdinandMay2015 (cropped).JPG
| caption = Ferdinand watching a [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] match in 2015
| full_name = Leslie Ferdinand<ref name="Hugman">{{Hugman|6284|access-date=31 December 2024}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|12|18|df=y}}<ref name="Hugman"/>
| birth_place = [[Acton, London|Acton]], England
| height = {{convert|1.80|m|order=flip}}<ref name="PremierLeagueProfile" />
| position = [[Forward (association football)#Striker|Striker]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs1 = [[Viking Greenford F.C.|Viking Sports]]
| youthclubs2 = [[Southall F.C.|Southall]]
| years1 = 1984–1986
| years2 = 1986–1987
| years3 = 1987–1995
| years4 = 1988
| years5 = 1988–1989
| years6 = 1995–1997
| years7 = 1997–2003
| years8 = 2003
| years9 = 2003–2004
| years10 = 2004–2005
| years11 = 2005
| clubs1 = [[Southall F.C.|Southall]]
| clubs2 = [[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]]
| clubs3 = [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
| clubs4 = → [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] (loan)
| clubs5 = → [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]] (loan)
| clubs6 = [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| clubs7 = [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| clubs8 = [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
| clubs9 = [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| clubs10 = [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
| clubs11 = [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
| caps1 = 
| goals1 = 
| caps2 = 33
| goals2 = 19
| caps3 = 163
| goals3 = 80
| caps4 = 3
| goals4 = 0
| caps5 = 24
| goals5 = 14
| caps6 = 68
| goals6 = 41
| caps7 = 118
| goals7 = 33
| caps8 = 14
| goals8 = 2
| caps9 = 29
| goals9 = 12
| caps10 = 12
| goals10 = 1
| caps11 = 12
| goals11 = 1
| caps12 = 0
| clubs12 = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| goals12 = 0
| years12 = 2005–2006
| totalcaps = 443
| totalgoals = 184
| nationalyears1 = 1998
| nationalyears2 = 1993–1998
| nationalteam1 = [[England national football B team|England B]]
| nationalteam2 = [[England national football team|England]]
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalcaps2 = 17
| nationalgoals2 = 5
| manageryears1 = 2015
| managerclubs1 = [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] (caretaker)
}}
'''Leslie Ferdinand''' (born 18 December 1966) is an English football coach, former professional [[Association football|footballer]] and television pundit.

A [[Forward (association football)#Striker|striker]], his playing career included notable spells in the [[Premier League]] with [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]], [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] and [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]. He also played in [[Turkey]] with [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]] and in the [[Football League]] with [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]], [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] and [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]. Prior to becoming a professional player, Ferdinand had played non-league football with both [[Southall F.C.|Southall]] and [[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]]. He earned 17 [[caps (football)|caps]] for [[England national football team|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<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/players/index.html?paramSearchType=BY_STAT|title=Stats|website=Premier League|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-date=4 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604174131/http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/players/index.html?paramSearchType=BY_STAT|url-status=dead}}</ref> and he contributed a further 49 assists in the division.<ref name="PremierLeagueProfile">{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/462/Les-Ferdinand/overview |title=Les Ferdinand: Overview |publisher=Premier League |access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref>

Following retirement, Ferdinand has mainly found work as a [[pundit]]. He returned to Tottenham Hotspur in 2008 as striker coach, departing in 2014. He then returned to QPR, first as head of football operations and subsequently as director of football. In 2015, he was named as caretaker manager for a short period.

==Early and personal life==
Ferdinand was born in [[Acton, London|Acton]], Greater London.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/les-ferdinand-503/ |title=Les Ferdinand |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=22 March 2020}}</ref> He is the second cousin of football-playing brothers [[Rio Ferdinand|Rio]] and [[Anton Ferdinand]] and a cousin of [[Maidenhead United F.C.|Maidenhead United]] player [[Kane Ferdinand]].<ref name=posh>{{cite news|title=Peterborough United sign Kane Ferdinand from Southend|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/19439518|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=31 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=QPR defender Ferdinand: Bursaspor fans excited about family name|url=https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/qpr-defender-ferdinand-bursaspor-fans-excited-about-family-name-3956518|publisher=Tribal Football|access-date=9 July 2023}}</ref>

His autobiography, ''Sir Les'', was published in 1997.<ref name="Ferdinand1997">{{cite book|author=L. Ferdinand|title=Sir Les: The Autobiography of Les Ferdinand|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LeOjHAAACAAJ|year=1997|publisher=Headline Book Publishing|isbn=978-0-7472-1997-2|access-date=22 June 2015}}</ref><ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=2458 Profile], soccerbase.com; retrieved 22 June 2015.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2007/aug/10/smalltalk.sportinterviews|title=Small Talk: Les Ferdinand|first=Paul|last=Doyle|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=10 August 2007|access-date=22 June 2015|location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/983304.stm|title=Ferdinand and the Blue Peter scandal|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=21 October 2000|location=London}}</ref>

Ferdinand was appointed a [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2005 Birthday Honours]].<ref name="Queen'sHonours">{{cite news|author=Kate O'Hara|title=Queen's Birthday Honours List|work=[[Yorkshire Post]]|date=11 June 2005|url=http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1053124|access-date=22 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926134259/http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=55&ArticleID=1053124|archive-date=26 September 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In an interview with the ''[[Evening Standard]]'' in February 2020, Ferdinand stated that fans racially abused him during his stints as a player and director of football.<ref name="Standard" />

==Club career==
===Early career===
Ferdinand started his career in non-league football, first at [[Viking Greenford F.C.|Viking Sports]] before moving to [[Southall F.C.|Southall]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Les Ferdinand {{!}} Sky Sports|url=https://www.skysports.com/lesferdinand|access-date=2021-01-08|publisher=Sky Sports|language=en}}</ref> He made his league debut for Southall in August 1984 against [[Chertsey Town F.C.|Chertsey Town]],<ref>{{Cite journal|date=30 April 1986|title=Appearances : Goals|journal=The Official Match-Day Programme of Southall Football Club|volume=vs Bracknell Town|pages=11}}</ref> and was part of the team which reached the [[List of FA Vase finals|FA Vase final]] in 1986, losing 3–0 to [[Halesowen Town F.C.|Halesowen Town]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.southallfc.com/club-history|access-date=2021-01-08|website=southallfc.com|archive-date=11 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111221913/https://www.southallfc.com/club-history|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following this, Ferdinand moved to [[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]], where he scored 20 goals in 42 appearances in all competitions (including friendlies).<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2 May 1987|title=Appearances & Goalscorers 1986–87|journal=Hayes Football Club Official Programme|volume=vs Walthamstow Avenue|pages=13}}</ref> He was spotted by [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] and moved there for £50,000.<ref name="TheseFootballTimes" />

===Queens Park Rangers===
Ferdinand made his QPR debut on 20 April 1987, aged 20, as a substitute in the 4–1 league defeat by [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] at [[Highfield Road]] – the first of two league appearances [[1986–87 in English football|that season]]. He played a further league game in [[1987–88 in English football|1987–88]], and was loaned for three games to [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]. In 1988, he was loaned to Turkish side [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]] for a season, and performed well with 14 goals in 24 league games and he also got his first taste of silverware, helping the club to a 3–1 aggregate victory over [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe S.K.]] in the [[1988–89 Turkish Cup|Turkish Cup]].<ref name="BesiktasCareer" />

He returned to the QPR side for the [[1989–90 in English football|1989–90 season]], and appeared in nine First Division matches as well as scoring his first two English league goals. He fared better in [[1990–91 in English football|1990–91]], playing in 18 league games and scoring eight goals as QPR ended up in a mid-table position. His 10 goals from 23 games in [[1991–92 in English football|1991–92]] helped ensure QPR's status as founder members of the new [[FA Premier League]] for the [[1992–93 in English football|1992–93 season]], and it was during this campaign that he established himself as a top striker, scoring 20 goals in 37 games as QPR finished fifth&nbsp;— the highest placed of all the [[London]] sides. In his autobiography, ''Sir Les'', Ferdinand wrote of his pride at scoring a hat-trick in a 5–3 win against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] at [[Goodison Park]] in April 1993, a place where he had previously received racist abuse:

{{blockquote|The hat-trick at Everton was particularly pleasing because I had always had racial abuse at Everton from their supporters. Doing that to them gave me extra pleasure. There are certain things which stick in your mind during your career as a footballer and the racism at Goodison Park is one of them. Probably the worst thing I have encountered in my professional career has been racist letters coming from supporters – most of which, I have to say, have come from Everton fans. After I scored that hat-trick against them over the Easter period, the letters I got back were disgusting.<ref>{{cite news |title=LES LASHES OUT; Everton; top the; hate list. |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/LES+LASHES+OUT%3B+Everton%3B+top+the%3B+hate+list.-a061068481 |access-date=27 August 2020 |agency=FreeLibrary}}</ref>}}

Ferdinand's fine form continued into [[1993–94 in English football|1993–94]], during which his 16 goals from 36 games helped QPR finish ninth. Despite mounting speculation of a move to either [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] or [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], he signed a two-year contract with QPR that summer.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P9xOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gBMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5427,505309&dq=les-ferdinand&hl=en Profile], google.com; retrieved 22 June 2015.</ref> In [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]], he scored 24 times in the Premier League and speculation grew that he would soon be on his way to a bigger club. In nearly a decade at [[Loftus Road]], he played under four different managers – [[Jim Smith (footballer, born 1940)|Jim Smith]], [[Trevor Francis]], [[Don Howe]] and [[Gerry Francis]].<ref>
[http://www.sportingheroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=39871 Profile], sportingheroes.net; retrieved 22 June 2015.</ref>

===Newcastle United===
Ferdinand was sold to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle]] in 1995 for £6 million, with Hayes receiving £600,000 due to a sell-on clause agreed following his move to QPR. With the money received, [[Hayes F.C.|Hayes]] built a function suite and named it "The Ferdinand Suite" in his honour.<ref name="Standard">{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/les-ferdinand-interview-qpr-newcastle-england-tottenham-a4355496.html|title=Les Ferdinand interview: 'Top clubs don't have the patience to find players like me any more'|work=Evening Standard|location=London|date=6 February 2020|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> His arrival at the club came nearly three years after the Magpies had offered QPR £3.3million for him during their Division One promotion season&nbsp;— but the offer had been turned down.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-qpr-ready-for-ferdinand-offers-1566215.html|location=London, UK|work=The Independent|first=Derek|last=Hodgson|title=Football: QPR ready for Ferdinand offers|date=31 December 1992}}</ref>

The spell on [[Tyneside]] was arguably Ferdinand's most successful club tenure. He scored 29 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 FA Premier League|1995–96]] season.<ref name="TheseFootballTimes" /> Newcastle led the league by 12 points at one stage, but were overhauled by Manchester United in the final three months of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/manchester-united-news-city-title-race-table-201718-199596-newcastle-nemanja-matic-a8170826.html|title=Manchester United hunted down Newcastle in 1996 – can they catch City from the same position in 2018?|website=Independent|date=21 January 2018|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2289437/Why-Keegans-class-of-96-blew-a-12-point-lead.html|title=Why Keegan's class of '96 blew a 12-point lead|website=The Telegraph|date=20 January 2008|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>

In both of his seasons on Tyneside, Ferdinand collected runners-up medals in the [[Premier League]].<ref name="NUFCHOF" /> In the second season, they contested a four-horse race with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] before Manchester United won the title. Midway through the [[1996–97 FA Premier League|1996–97]] season, however, came a change, as manager [[Kevin Keegan]] surprisingly departed Newcastle and was replaced by [[Kenny Dalglish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.themag.co.uk/2018/06/sir-kenny-dalglish-ruined-newcastle-united-just-poor/|title=Sir Kenny Dalglish – Ruined Newcastle United or just very very poor?|website=The Mag|date=9 June 2018 |access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> Despite the Scot being regretful to lose such a talented striker, it quickly became apparent Ferdinand would be dispensed to free up funds for further signings.<ref name="TottTransfer" /> In an interview with [[Sky Sports]] in 2019, Ferdinand admitted that he regretted leaving Newcastle and had hoped at the time to stay on Tyneside for the rest of his career.<ref name="TottTransfer">{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/11603974/les-ferdinand-regretted-leaving-newcastle-for-tottenham|title=Les Ferdinand regretted leaving Newcastle for Tottenham|publisher=Sky Sports|date=1 December 2019|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>

Ferdinand scored 50 goals in only 84 games at Newcastle, forming a successful strike partnership with [[Alan Shearer]]. 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.<ref name="NUFCHOF" />

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.<ref name="NUFCHOF" />

===Tottenham Hotspur===
In 1997 Ferdinand was bought by [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], the club he supported as a boy, for £6 million.<ref name="TheseFootballTimes" /> Injuries heavily disrupted his first season at the club, but towards the end of the campaign he formed a good partnership with [[Jürgen Klinsmann]], and the pair's goals saved Spurs from relegation from the Premiership.<ref name="TheseFootballTimes" /> Ferdinand helped Spurs win the League Cup in 1999, defeating [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] 1–0 in the final at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]], but injuries restricted him to just 12 goals in his first three seasons at the club.<ref name="TheseFootballTimes" /><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.spursodyssey.com/articles/wcfin1.html|title=Leicester 0 Spurs 1|work=Spursodyssey|access-date=7 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/190314-twih-1999-league-cup-final-1431026.aspx|title=1999 League Cup Final|work=lcfc.com|access-date=7 October 2014}}</ref>

He improved his goal-scoring return over the next two seasons, contributing 10 goals in the [[2000–01 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|2000–01]] season and a further 15 during the [[2001–02 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|2001–02]] campaign. Ferdinand scored the 10,000th goal in Premiership history on 15 December 2001 in a 4–0 win against [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Russell |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/dec/17/match.sport3 |title=Ferdinand exemplifies golden touch of Spurs |date=17 December 2001 |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> He played in a second League Cup final for the club against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] in [[2002 Football League Cup Final|2002]], but was thwarted by three saves by Rovers' goalkeeper [[Brad Friedel]] as Spurs lost 2–1.<ref name=BBC-report>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/worthington_cup/1834988.stm|title=Cole strike stuns Spurs|date=24 February 2002|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

===Later career===
After struggling to find a place in Spurs' first team season following [[Glenn Hoddle]]'s purchase of [[Robbie Keane]] from [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds]], he moved to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] on 21 January 2003 for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/2678575.stm|title=Ferdinand joins West Ham|publisher=BBC|date=21 January 2003|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> He scored his first goal for the club against former club Tottenham,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2790031.stm|title=Hammers see off Spurs|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=1 March 2003|access-date=9 September 2009}}</ref> but was unable to prevent the club's relegation from the [[2002–03 FA Premier League|Premier League]] and opted to remain in the top flight by signing for newly promoted [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] on a free transfer. While at Leicester Ferdinand scored 12 Premiership goals, despite being 37 years old. After the Foxes were relegated at the end of [[2003–04 FA Premier League|that season]], he rejected a new contract and joined [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref name="Ferdinand joins Bolton">{{cite news|title=Ferdinand joins Bolton|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/3863503.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 July 2004|access-date=19 May 2011}}</ref>

Ferdinand memorably scored for [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] against rivals Manchester United in the last minute, despite playing from a centre back position, which looked to have given the Wanderers the win, but a goal from [[David Bellion]] even deeper in injury time gave United a point.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3599088.stm|title=Bolton 2–2 Man Utd|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=11 September 2004|access-date=27 August 2009}}</ref>

He found opportunities from the start limited, but proved useful for all his experience when coming off the substitutes' bench, and scored against former club Tottenham in the League Cup, with what proved to be a mere consolation goal in a 4–3 thriller which Bolton lost.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/3947051.stm|title=Bolton 3–4 Tottenham (aet)|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=27 October 2004|access-date=27 August 2009}}</ref> He left them on 2 January 2005. Four days later, he signed with [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]. His contract at the club lasted until the end of the [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]] season. He scored one league goal in his time at Reading, in a 2–1 loss to [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/4259873.stm|title=Reading 1–2 Coventry|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=19 February 2005|access-date=27 August 2009}}</ref>

Ferdinand committed to non-contract terms with [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] during the [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06]], but did not play a competitive game for the club and left after their promotion to the [[Premier League]] via the [[Football League Championship]] playoffs. He retired from football a few months short of his 40th birthday.<ref name="TheseFootballTimes">{{cite web|url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/09/10/names-of-the-nineties-les-ferdinand/|title=Names of the Nineties: Les Ferdinand|website=These Football Times|date=9 October 2019|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>

==International career==
Ferdinand made his [[England national football team|England]] debut in February 1993 against [[San Marino national football team|San Marino]], scoring the final goal in a 6–0 victory at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]].<ref name=":0">{{Englandstats|ref=y|access-date=23 June 2015}}</ref> He was part of the [[1996 UEFA European Football Championship|Euro 96]] and [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] squads, although he did not feature in any of the tournament matches.<ref name="Queen'sHonours"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Strack-Zimmermann |first=Benjamin |title=Les Ferdinand (Player) |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/10349/Les_Ferdinand.html |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=www.national-football-teams.com |language=en}}</ref> He was capped 17 times, scoring five goals.<ref name=":0" />

==Coaching career==
On 5 November 2008 Ferdinand joined fellow ex-Tottenham player [[Tim Sherwood]] on the coaching staff of Tottenham Hotspur, to work with the [[Striker (association football)|striker]]s.<ref name="Redknapp">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/7711083.stm|title=Ferdinand set for Tottenham role|date=5 November 2008|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=5 November 2008|title=Les Ferdinand is to return to Tottenham Hotspur|work=[[The Times]]|location=London, UK|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/les-ferdinand-is-to-return-to-tottenham-hotspur-5gc5jlgvcnk|url-access=subscription|access-date=22 June 2015}}</ref> Ferdinand left the club on 19 June 2014.<ref name="Ferdinand leaves Spurs">{{cite news|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/club-announcement-190614/|title=The Club can announce that Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey have left the Club|date=19 June 2014|publisher=Tottenham Hotspur|access-date=22 June 2015}}</ref> In October 2014, Ferdinand became head of football operations at [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]], before being appointed as director of football in February 2015.<ref>[http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/les-ferdinand-director-of-football-qpr-loftus-road-2247276.aspx Les Ferdinand named Director of Football at Queens Park Rangers], qpr.co.uk; retrieved 22 June 2015.</ref>

On 16 June 2023, it was announced that Ferdinand had stepped down as director of football with the west London club, citing it was the right time to move on after eight years at the helm.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65926531|title=Ferdinand steps down as QPR's director of football|work=BBC Sport }}</ref>

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{ENFA}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National Cup
!colspan="2"|League Cup
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
|[[1986–87 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1986–87]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|2||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0
|-
|[[1987–88 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1987–88]]
|First Division
|1||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||2||0
|-
|[[1989–90 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1989–90]]
|First Division
|9||2||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||9||2
|-
|[[1990–91 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1990–91]]
|First Division
|18||8||1||0||2||0||0||0||21||8
|-
|[[1991–92 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1991–92]]
|First Division
|23||10||0||0||2||2||1{{efn|name=FMC|Appearances in [[Full Members' Cup]]}}||0||26||12
|-
|[[1992–93 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1992–93]]
|[[Premier League]]
|37||20||2||2||3||2||colspan="2"|—||42||24
|-
|[[1993–94 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1993–94]]
|Premier League
|36||16||1||0||3||2||colspan="2"|—||40||18
|-
|[[1994–95 Queens Park Rangers F.C. season|1994–95]]
|Premier League
|37||24||3||1||2||1||colspan="2"|—||42||26
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!163!!80!!7!!3!!13!!7!!1!!0!!184!!90
|-
|[[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]] (loan)
|[[1987–88 Brentford F.C. season|1987–88]]
|[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]
|3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0
|-
|[[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]] (loan)
|[[Turkish First Football League 1988-89|1988–89]]
|[[Süper Lig]]
|24||14||5||4||colspan="2"|—||1||0||30||18
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
|[[1995–96 Newcastle United F.C. season|1995–96]]
|Premier League
|37||25||2||1||5||3||colspan="2"|–||44||29
|-
|[[1996–97 Newcastle United F.C. season|1996–97]]
|Premier League
|31||16||3||1||1||0||5{{efn|name=NEW|Four appearances and 4 goals in [[UEFA Cup]], one appearance in [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]]}}||4||40||21
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!68!!41!!5!!2!!6!!3!!5!!4!!84!!50
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
|[[1997–98 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1997–98]]
|Premier League
|21||5||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||24||5
|-
|[[1998–99 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1998–99]]
|Premier League
|24||5||7||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||35||5
|-
|[[1999–2000 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|Premier League
|9||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||9||2
|-
|[[2000–01 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|2000–01]]
|Premier League
|28||10||4||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||35||10
|-
|[[2001–02 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|2001–02]]
|Premier League
|25||9||3||1||5||5||colspan="2"|—||33||15
|-
|[[2002–03 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|11||2||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||13||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!118!!33!!16!!1!!15!!5!!0!!0!!149!!39
|-
|[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
|[[2002–03 West Ham United F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|14||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||2
|-
|[[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
|[[2003–04 Leicester City F.C. season|2003–04]]
|Premier League
|29||12||2||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||31||13
|-
|[[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
|[[2004–05 Bolton Wanderers F.C. season|2004–05]]
|Premier League
|12||1||colspan="2"|—||2||1||colspan="2"|—||14||2
|-
|[[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
|[[2004–05 Reading F.C. season|2004–05]]
|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|12||1||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||1
|-
|[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
|[[2005–06 Watford F.C. season|2005–06]]
|Championship
|0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!443!!184!!37!!11!!36!!16!!7!!4!!523!!215
|}

{{notelist}}

==Honours==
'''Beşiktaş'''
*[[Turkish Cup]]: [[1988–89 Turkish Cup|1988–89]]<ref name="BesiktasCareer">{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11096/8913500/brits-abroad-les-ferdinand|title=Brits abroad – Les Ferdinand|publisher=Sky Sports|date=30 September 2013|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>

'''Tottenham Hotspur'''
*[[Football League Cup]]: [[1998–99 Football League Cup|1998–99]];<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/300408.stm |title=Nielsen nicks it for Spurs |website=BBC Sport |date=22 March 1999 |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleagueheroes.com/les-ferdinand/|title=Where is Les Ferdinand now?|website=Premier League Heroes|date=16 June 2015 |access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref> runner-up: [[2001–02 Football League Cup|2001–02]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/worthington_cup/1834988.stm |title=Cole strike stuns Spurs |website=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2002 |access-date=27 March 2024}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[PFA Players' Player of the Year]]: [[1995–96 FA Premier League|1995–96]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2298557/PFA-Player-of-the-Year-winners-1974-2007.html|title=PFA Player of the Year winners 1974-2007|website=The Telegraph|date=27 April 2008|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>
*[[PFA Team of the Year]]: 1995–96 Premier League<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The 1996–97 Official PFA Footballers Factfile |year=1996 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=Harpenden |isbn=978-1-85291-571-1 |page=285}}</ref>
*[[Football Writers' Association|North-East FWA Player of the Year]]: 1996<ref>{{cite web|url=https://footballwriters.co.uk/editorial/saint-maximin-voted-north-east-fwa-player-of-the-year/|title=Saint-Maximin voted North-East FWA Player of the Year|website=footballwriters.co.uk|date=13 January 2022|accessdate=30 August 2022}}</ref>
*Scorer of the 10,000th Premier League goal – [[Premier League 10 Seasons Awards]] (1992–93 – 2001–02)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tenseasons.premierleague.com/index.jsp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030417165131/http://tenseasons.premierleague.com/index.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2003|title=10 SEASONS AWARD WINNERS|website=Premier League|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref><ref name=RTESport15Dec01Ferdinand>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2001/1215/tottenham.html|title=Ferdinand scores Premiership's 10,000th goal|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=12 December 2001|access-date=2009-10-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050216023743/http://www.rte.ie/sport/2001/1215/tottenham.html |archive-date= 16 February 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Leicester City Player of the Year: [[2003–04 Leicester City F.C. season|2003–04]]<ref name="OFAF">{{Cite book|author=Dave Smith & Paul Taylor|title=Of Fossils and Foxes|year=2010|publisher=Pitch |isbn=978-1-905411-94-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lcfc.com/page/Records/0,,10274~1028867,00.html |title=The official site of Leicester City Football Club |access-date=20 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120908051845/http://www.lcfc.com/page/Records/0%2C%2C10274~1028867%2C00.html |archive-date= 8 September 2012 }}</ref>
*Newcastle United Hall of Fame Inductee<ref name="NUFCHOF">{{cite web|url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/club/history/hall-of-fame/les-ferdinand/|title=Les Ferdinand|website=NUFC|access-date=7 February 2020}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of English association football families]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{Soccerbase}}
*{{Englandstats}}

{{Navboxes
| title = England squads
| bg = white
| fg = #0B0B3F
| bordercolor = #0B0B3F
| list1 = 
{{England squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
{{England squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = Gold
| fg = Navy
| list1 = 
{{1995–96 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{PFA Players' Player of the Year}}
{{Leicester City F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Newcastle United F.C. Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Queens Park Rangers F.C. managers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferdinand, Les}}
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