FOOTBALLER Rio Ferdinand has paid tribute to his "wonderful" wife and "soulmate" after her death aged 34 following a short battle with cancer.
Rebecca Ellison, who married the QPR defender in 2009 while he was a Manchester United player, passed away on Friday at a hospital in London.
She is survived by the 36-year-old former Leeds and England captain and their three children, Lorenz, nine, Tate, six, and Tia, four.
Ferdinand confirmed his wife's passing in a statement posted on QPR's website on Saturday morning.
"My soulmate slipped away last night," he said.
"Rebecca, my wonderful wife, passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
"She was a fantastic, loving mother to our three beautiful children. She will be missed as a wife, sister, aunt, daughter and granddaughter. She will live on in our memory, as a guide and inspiration."
Ferdinand expressed gratitude to the Royal Marsden Hospital staff who cared for his wife in her final days.
"Myself, my parents Janice and Julian, along with Rebecca's parents Lesley and Stephen, would like to thank our families, friends and my club colleagues who have rallied around in these desperate days, weeks and months," he added.
"I would also like to express my gratitude for the dedication and expertise of the staff led by Professors Johnstone and Clarke at the Royal Marsden. Their valiant efforts to prolong Rebecca's all-too-short life will not be forgotten.
"Our grief, as a family, is total. We would appreciate being allowed to mourn privately."
The couple married in August 2009 after Ferdinand had helped United win a third successive Premier League title and the club, where he won six league titles and the Champions League, paid their respects shortly after the news broke.
"Manchester United would like to express its deepest condolences to Rio Ferdinand after the news that his wife, Rebecca, has sadly passed away," a statement on the club's official website said.
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