His late partner was just 34 years of age when she lost her battle with breast cancer.

Former Manchester United defender Ferdinand brought a highly decorated playing career to a close shortly after Rebecca’s passing, with his three children becoming the focal point of his life.

Rio reveals Man Utd’s ’teacher’s pet'

A man who was an on-field leader at the peak of his powers - with six Premier League titles, a Champions League triumph and 81 England caps on a glittering CV – initially struggled to come terms with being a single parent.

Ferdinand, whose tells his story in a one-off BBC documentary, admits that he sought solace in late-night drinking in an effort to combat his grief.

Speaking to the Radio Times about ‘Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad’, the 38-year-old said: “At the beginning I was drinking a lot at night time.

“We have a lady, luckily enough, who lives with us, she would go to bed and I’d come back down in the middle of the night and probably drink a lot for the first three or four months. But I would get up and do the school run and stuff.”

Ferdinand has also discussed how he can now sympathise with those who find themselves in a ‘dark place’ in times of trauma, with it only through the support of those around him that he was able to avoid slipping into a similar trap.

He added in the upcoming show: “That’s why a network of people around you is so important. And I was fortunate to have that and also having my kids as inspiration to make sure I get up and do things and try and make things work.

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“Some people aren’t afforded that, some people haven’t got that, and that’s when I started to become a bit more sympathetic when people do go to places that are dark places.

Ferdinand added: “I used to look at people or read stories and think, how can you be so selfish and commit suicide or attempt to commit suicide or whatever.

“But I can actually sympathise now because I understand that you get to places where you think, if I didn’t have that network of people or my kids who I use as an inspiration to be able to get up and think straight, I can understand that.”