RIO Ferdinand wore a daring outfit on TNT Sports’ Champions League final coverage that echoed Liverpool’s famous ‘Spice Boys’ suit of the 1996 FA Cup final.
The Man Utd legend, 45, was a guest at Wembley alongside Jose Mourinho – with Laura Woods on hosting duties.
But immediately, viewers were drawn to discussion about his bold suit choice.
Perhaps with the weather in mind, Ferdinand donned a sharp cream linen number for the showpiece.
Underneath his blazer, he wore an unbuttoned white shirt as he fielded questions from presenter Woods.
However, fans online couldn’t help but comment on Ferdinand’s fashionable two-piece.
One wrote on X: “Rio Ferdinand reviving the ghost of Liverpools Spice Boys.”
A second shared: “Rio Ferdinand dressed as the NumberTaker.”
A third added: “Jose looking well after not working for a bit. Rio looking the picture of sartorial style in cream linen.”
While a fourth posted: “Rio Ferdinand looks like a fkn pimp with that white suit on.”
The sharp look drew comparisons with a cream Armani suit worn by Liverpool’s stars ahead of the 1996 FA Cup final.
Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp and others were called the ‘Spice Boys’ because of their perceived lifestyle off the pitch.
The name was actually coined following unfounded rumours Fowler was dating Spice Girl, Emma Bunton.
While Jason McAteer and David James took on modelling jobs outside of football that continued to fuel that image, with success limited.
The Reds famously lost that 1996 cup final to Manchester United after Eric Cantona’s late strike.
Fowler spoke about the famous suit to the Daily Mirror in 2008.
He said: “People still remind me about the white suits all the time. It’s one of those things – if we had won the game nobody would have mentioned it but we lost and it has become infamous.”