Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand has slammed the new generation of footballers who do not pay their dues.

Speaking to the Sun, the England star slammed young players who didn't "listen to older players"

Ferdinand said: "It's well documented that I liked to enjoy my life when I was younger.

"But if I hadn't changed my ways I could easily have been somebody who was flushed through the lower echelons of football.

"I always think back now, 'If only I was a bit more able to say no to a night out and not do as much clubbing - would I have got more out of my career?' The answer is I probably would have.

"Youngsters should listen to older players, especially those like me who have seen that side of the coin, because it could so easily have gone the other way in my case.

"Yes, I've been lucky but it's been down to my own personal work and self-discipline knowing when to stop."

The 32-year old gave an insight towards the kind of money players drew at the start of his careers, compared to the early days when he had just turned professional.

The ex-England captain said: "My first contract was a hundred and something pounds a week, which was still a lot of money, but it's not the kind of jump you see nowadays.

"I think young players these days sometimes get too much too early. Now some kids' first professional contracts are for a few thousand quid a week.

"You think to yourself, 'Bloody hell - that's a massive jump to go from not earning anything to earning that'.

"A young kid having access to that type of money, unless he's got good people around him, he's not going to be able to handle it."

"Young players' biggest concern shouldn't be the pitfalls and all the stuff that hangs around football.

"Their focus should be on working and training hard and sacrificing everything to become a successful footballer."

Ferdinand believes that the pressures of football can be too much for these young players, saying: "It's a great life being a footballer - but I wouldn't say it's an easy life".

"There are a lot of pressures that go with it but it's what I buy into.

"It's what I wanted to do as a kid and I wouldn't change it for anything.

"And luckily at United I've found the right club and the right manager in Sir Alex Ferguson for me to be a real professional."

Ferdinand also believes that there are many young footballers who get caught in the trappings of the game and never fully play to the maximum of their ability.

He revealed: "They're the guys who probably use 70 per cent of their talent.

"They don't put in extra work and are happy to go in, play the games, get through it and not worry about improving or setting their standards higher.

"Everyone's different - some people don't have the desire to go on and do everything they can to become better players."

The player also gave an insight towards his interest into coaching and management.

He added: "I see myself going into coaching and management one day - but I don't know at what level.

"It's difficult to walk into a job at Man United and the manager has to see that you're right.

"But I'm going to do my badges when I retire and go from there."

Ferdinand has made 235 appearances for the Red Devils, and 80 for the Three Lions.