Rio Ferdinand Judges Britain´s Next Top Model

Rio Ferdinand  is to go from one beautiful game to another – as the Man United ace becomes a judge on Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model.

Rio, 34, will be the first footballer on the panel searching for a new queen of the catwalk on the Sky Living show.

The Reds defender is being lined up to help pick out the strikers alongside fellow judge Dannii Minogue, 41 and supermodel presenter Elle Macpherson, 49.

A source close to him told the media  “It will be hilarious to watch Rio on the show. He sees himself as a bit of style expert but he’s up for a laugh, too.”

Rio Ferdinand

But he’s no fashion minnow – Rio’s already shown his form on the catwalk at a charity gala, and has his own ­accessories range called #5 after his shirt number.

Programme bosses are hoping the centre-back will sign up to “share his fashion expertise” with the wannabe models on the show’s ninth series.

Rio has previously spoken of his life-long love of fashion. When he launched #5 in 2010, he said: “I always had clothes around as a kid growing up. When my dad went out, I’d put on his blazers and his brogues. I’d be thinking, ‘If only he’d had his name initialled on the inside.’”

The fashion reality show, made by Summed Up Productions, starts filming later this year and goes on air in July.

Last year’s judges were top British designer Julien Macdonald, 41, star of The Hills, Whitney Port, 27, and former Calvin Klein model Tyson Beckford, 42.