Perhaps the most persuasive argument for the Manchester United defender's promotion is that he has belatedly matured, to become the least worst of potential Terry replacements.
Lad among the WAGs: Rio Ferdinand at the 2006 World Cup with women including Wayne Bridge's partner Vanessa Perroncel, ringed
Like Terry, Ferdinand emerged from a tough London council estate. Like his predecessor, a brilliant early career was often accompanied by off-field excess. When the West Ham teenager was called up to the England squad in 1997, it gave him the chance of becoming his country's youngest player since Duncan Edwards, 40 years before.
The clubber: Ferdinand out at 4am before a drugs hearing
Unfortunately, he was slow to learn from such mistakes. Having failed to make the England party for Euro 2000, he accompanied several other young players on holiday to the Cypriot resort of Ayia Napa.
In their five-star hotel they drank heavily, picked up girls and filmed each other having sex. A Sunday newspaper was given the footage; Ferdinand was in the doghouse again.
There was no doubting his talent. In November 2000 he was transferred to Leeds United for a British record £18million. But a change of scene brought but no apparent change of character.
In October 2001, only days before England's crucial World Cup qualifying-game with Greece, he broke curfew to visit strip clubs and bars in London with fellow England defender Ashley 'Cashley' Cole, of Arsenal, and Arsenal reserve team player Paolo Vernazza. No one would have known if Vernazza had not returned home to surprise and be stabbed by a burglar.
Ferdinand would not give a statement to police, no doubt worried that it would be another admission of professional indiscipline.
Two years later he was summoned to appear in court twice in one day. In the first case he was banned from driving for a speeding offence.
Very shortly afterwards he appeared as a witness in a case involving an attempted rape, indecent assault and kidnap.
Party boy: Rio Ferdinand enjoys a night out in the Clara club, in Tel Aviv last summer
The court heard that Ferdinand had been on a drinking binge in Leeds during which he had jumped on the roof of a car, pestered female clubbers and been in the company of a 'serious criminal'. And his worst transgression - one which threatened his entire career - was yet to come.
In the summer of 2002 Ferdinand joined Manchester United for a then world-record fee for a defender of £30million.
Keen sense of style: Rio Ferdinand scored a disastrous own goal with his choice of kit in Tel Aviv
The veracity of his excuse can never been proved, of course. In January 2004 he was banned from all competitions for eight months.
Picking up a huge salary during his self-enforced absence, while his team struggled, Ferdinand lost the support and affection of many United fans.
Ferdinand married Rebecca Ellison, with whom he has two children, last year
That has taken several years to win back. He has done so by playing well and participating in a number of good causes, notably with underprivileged children. His home life is settled, it seems. Last year he married his long-time girlfriend and mother of his two children, Rebecca Ellison, in a ceremony which was not sold to a celebrity magazine.
Miss Ellison had shown considerable forbearance in previous years as the footballer was linked with a number of models, including the then ubiquitous Abi Titmuss.
Now aged 31 and articulate in interview, Ferdinand seems to have put his wilder days behind him. Time will tell.
Support role: Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand, currently suspended for violently elbowing an opponent in a Premier League match, watches his team from the Old Trafford stands
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