Premier League legend Rio Ferdinand is a far from popular figure at Leeds United these days.
That is to be expected, really. As far as the Elland Road faithful are concerned, leaving Leeds for Manchester United is the sort of sin God sent a flood to cleanse away.
Yet, even the most hard-nosed, anti-red Leeds fanatic would have to admit that Rio Ferdinand gave this impassioned fanbase some pretty happy memories before he became better known as ‘Judas’ around these parts of West Yorkshire.
Ferdinand was part of that wonderful Leeds United side who came within touching distance of the Champions League final. His goal against Deportivo La Coruna – capping a performance so faultless it earned him a 10/10 rating in the Yorkshire Evening Post – was a truly iconic moment in the club’s modern history.
Albeit a moment now soured by what came next.
But as Leeds United weigh up whether to enter the market for a centre-half again, nearly a quarter-of-a-century after making Ferdinand the world’s most expensive-ever defender, could Andrew Omobamidele be the closest thing Elland Road has seen to the man who inherited the captain’s armband of the legendary Lucas Radebe in 2001?
Leeds United like Nottingham Forest’s Andrew Omobamidele
Well, Omobamidele is probably unlikely to ever scale the same heights as Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand was leading the charge in the Champions League at the same age as Omobamidele is now, the 22-year-old stuck on the fringes at Nottingham Forest in contrast. Yet, comparisons between Omobamidele and Ferdinand have swirled throughout much of the Forest benchwarmer’s young career.
Omobamidele, by his own admission, grew up idolising the 2008 Champions League winner. His ‘extremely composed and extremely athletic’ style, to quote former Republic of Ireland coach Stephen Kenny, also highlighted two attributes that immediately come to mind when discussing a peak-era Ferdinand.
“A really, really exciting footballer,” Vinny Perth, a coach who managed Dundalk across the Irish sea, told Off the Ball back in 2021. “He is so comfortable on the ball. I hate giving players tags, but he looks like a young Rio Ferdinand.
“He is so calm on the ball, so assured on the ball, his passing range is excellent.”
Perth felt, at the time, that Omobamidele could one day blossom into a ‘Declan Rice-type’ central midfielder. Rice started out as a defender at West Ham, after all, long before his £105 million switch to Arsenal.
Three years on, Omobamidele is yet to play a senior game in midfield with Daniel Farke among those who felt he was better suited in the backline.
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke called Omobamidele ‘outstanding’
Farke, while handing the then-18-year-old his senior debut in Norwich City’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, took the very brave decision to start a teenager up against the mighty Pierre Emerick Aubamenyang.
That Omobamidele largely kept the Arsenal talisman quiet – The Gunners needed a penalty to seal all three points – was enough for Farke to hand him another eight top-flight appearances en route to Norwich’s relegation.
“First of all, many compliments to Andrew,” Farke said after that narrow Emirates reverse. “Outstanding.”
Flash forward to 2024 and, with Pascal Struijk on Tottenham’s radar, Max Wober’s future uncertain and Ethan Ampadu only just back after a long injury absence, Leeds continue to be mentioned as a potential destination should Nottingham Forest look to cut ties with Omobamidele, per the Daily Telegraph.
Especially with the aforementioned Daniel Farke now patrolling the Elland Road touchline.
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