Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has revealed how he felt embarrassed when he was handed the captaincy at Leeds United from South African great Lucas Radebe.

Radebe, who enjoys a cult status at Leeds, captained the side for four years during his 11-year spell at Elland Road from 1994 and 2005, but in 2001, he saw the armband taken away from him and handed to a young Rio Ferdinand by then manager David O'Leary.

The Bafana Bafana legend had seen injuries keep him out of the team for a long time and the coach thought it wise to change the team leadership, handing the captaincy to Ferdinand, who was at the time one of the finest young centre-backs in the world.

Remembering that moment, Ferdinand shared on his YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents how it was an awkward moment when both of them were called in by O'Leary for the change of team leadership.

“I have been in that situation but the roles were reversed,” Ferdinand told United defender Harry Maguire when he asked him how his conversation with Bruno Fernandes went, when former manager Erik ten Hag stripped him of the captaincy and handed it to the Portuguese midfielder.

Ferdinand lauds nice Radebe for seamless transition

“I was Bruno and the manager David O'Leary comes to me and tells me; ‘Rio I am going to make you captain’ in front of Lucas Radebe. Never spoke to me and never spoke to him. I was so embarrassed,” he shared.

The six-time Premier League winner, however, lauded Radebe for making the transition so easy that he felt comfortable to slip into the new role despite the awkward meeting.

“Like you [Maguire], Lucas Radebe, like Bruno, really nice guy and actually made me feel much more comfortable by it. It could have been awkward, they kind of made it more comfortable,” he added.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

Ferdinand, who played for Leeds from 2000-2002, left for Manchester United just one year after being made Leeds captain, and enjoyed 12 trophy-laden years at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Radebe, who had turned down overtures from United earlier in his Leeds career, stayed at the club until 2005 and still enjoys a massive following to date.

Why is ‘The Chief’ still very popular at Leeds United?

Popularly known as The Chief, Radebe was part of the Leeds side that finished fourth in the Premier League in the 1998-99 season before improving to third the following campaign, to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.

Lucas Radebe playing for Leeds United. Photo Imago — Lucas Radebe playing for Leeds United.

He was captain when the club reached the semi-final of the Champions League, and was awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award at the end of the 1999-2000 season, attracting interest from bitter rivals United, AS Roma and AC Milan but chose to stay at Leeds, a decision that endeared him to the club’s fans even more.

Radebe’s popularity among Leeds supporters saw a fan name his newborn son after him last August while in 2008, a local brewery named their beer brand after him.

With Leeds securing Premier League promotion in April this year, the former Kaizer Chiefs defender was named the club’s first Global Ambassador.