Rio Ferdinand: 'My career doesn't have as much time as I'd like,' QPR centre-back admits retirement on the horizon

VIDEO EXCLUSIVE: Former Manchester United and England defender is now 36

Rio Ferdinand has admitted that he does not have as 'much time as I'd like' left in what has been a glittering career.

The former Manchester United and England captain, now 36, has found himself out of Harry Redknapp's Queens Park Rangers team lately, last playing in the 2-0 defeat to West Ham on 5 October.

Speaking as a BT Sport ambassador for the broadcasters charitable initiative, The Supporters Club, Ferdinand said, smiling: "My career doesn’t have as much time as I’d like."

Ferdinand also admitted he'd "hopes to see Manchester United win the title in a year or two", but that it "could be a while" before Rangers win their next trophy.

"We need to get out of the relegation fight first," he said.

Ferdinand also had a dig at QPR team-mate Karl Henry, who "spends more time than anyone I’ve ever known in football on the phone".

Winner of six Premier League titles, an FA Cup, the Champions League and 81 England caps, Ferdinand was speaking at the Francis Barber Referral Unit in Tooting, taking part in one of the [Lawrence] Dallaglio Foundation's 'RugbyWorks' schemes, taking part in a touch rugby session.

He said: "I see a lot of kids here who are really similar, from similar backgrounds to myself and other kids from council estate environments - and we’re trying to give them that inspiration and idea that you can do something positive with your life if you put your mind to it.

"If you can adapt to certain environments and prove that you can be of worth outside your own environment, then you’ve got a chance to do something positive with your life.”

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Rio Ferdinand is amongst the BT Sport ambassadors backing a campaign by BT Sport’s The Supporters Club inviting people to pledge their time this Christmas and beyond to charities and sports clubs. People can try something new by pledging their extra time to sports volunteering opportunities in their local area via www.btsport.com/myextratime