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Rio Ferdinand
Club: Manchester United (Manchester)
Annual Salary: $12.17 million
Position: Defender
Nationality: English
Age: 29
After serving an eight-month ban in 2003 for missing a mandatory drug test, Rio Ferdinand has won back fans through his tenacious defending that ensured Manchester United conceded the least number of goals last season. Alongside his Serbian-born playing partner Nemanja Vidic, Ferdinand is part of the EPL's most dominating defensive units. That helps to explain why many observers expect Manchester United to win its third-straight Premiership title.
