It is ironic that Fabio Capello's attempts to instil discipline and focus into his newly adopted England side have prompted him to appoint as his latest captain a player who has, on regular occasions, appeared to lack both. Rio Ferdinand has served a ban for missing a drugs test, been convicted four times for driving offences, and been prone to the odd aberration on the pitch with his languid style always suggesting carelessness. Yet this is also a player who, perhaps more than any other in this squad, has reinvented his reputation.

It says everything about his endeavours that confirmation that the Manchester United centre-half would lead his country at the Stade de France tonight did not provoke astonishment. There is a new maturity to Ferdinand, which has been reflected in his performances this season. He has been the Premier League's best centre-half, a key member of a defence that has conceded only 15 league goals.

Off the pitch, there is a recognition of past failings and a willingness to avoid similar indiscretions. "Everyone goes through ups and downs in their careers, and their lives," he said yesterday. "It's how you come out of them. Do you take it on board and use it to your advantage? I've learnt from those problems and come out stronger. It took me a long time to realise the responsibility of being a professional footballer. But I've grasped that now. I've got a young family too. I'm not ashamed to say I made mistakes growing up and I might do again in the future, but as costly as those I made in the past? I hope not."

Four years ago any suggestion that Ferdinand might captain his country would have seemed ridiculous. This was a player who, when called up to Glenn Hoddle's England squad for the first time ahead of a World Cup qualifier against Moldova in 1997, celebrated by hitting the town only to be caught drink driving. He was promptly denied a debut.

Three years later he was one of a number of England internationals, omitted from the Euro 2000 squad, exposed by a Sunday newspaper filming each other having sex with girls they had picked up at the Cypriot holiday resort of Ayia Napa. A £30m move from Leeds to Manchester United reflected his immense talent, though his impact at Old Trafford was interrupted by the eight-month ban imposed after he failed to take a drugs test in 2003, with the episode tarnishing his image.

Throw in a furore over an alleged meeting with Peter Kenyon at a London hotel - all parties denied it was prearranged - when contract negotiations appeared to be stalling in 2005 and an unwanted visit from balaclava-wearing United fans to his home and he was courting controversy too often. "But I'm more mature," he explained. "I felt closure on the drug ban issue as soon as I walked out against Liverpool on my comeback and the fans were singing my name. That was a weight off my shoulders, a big moment for me.

"I learnt who my friends were when I was banned. In periods like that you look deep into yourself. Have you got a thick skin, the character to keep training hard? I missed six days [training] in the whole time I was banned, working as hard as I ever have. That was the light at the end of the tunnel, as the manager said: 'Make sure you come back in the best condition possible.' People suggested I should get away, but I wanted to keep myself in the frame."

He returned wiser - he denies having organised the controversial United Christmas party in Manchester last year - playing a prominent role in the anti-knives campaign instigated in Peckham following the murder of Damilola Taylor. He has been just as responsible on the pitch. Nemanja Vidic's strong-arm presence at his side has helped, his tendency to let his mind wander no longer such a problem.

Sunday's booking against Liverpool was a fifth of the season. He has taken the armband at Old Trafford in the absence of Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs. "Experience is important in the England role," said Sir Alex Ferguson. "He wouldn't have captained my side if he wasn't capable of captaining England."

"A new manager comes in and everyone's on trial," added Ferdinand. "Mr Capello has been successful throughout his whole club career. He leads by example and is very certain of his ideas, on the training ground and in the hotel. We're on trial and we know that. The players who can't adjust to that or deal with it won't play." A few years ago he might have fallen into that category. Yet this is a changed man.

The two sides of Rio

1996 Makes Premier League debut for West Ham at the age of 17

1997 Caught drink-driving and is dropped from his first England squad

2000 In the tabloids because of a sex video filmed in Ayia Napa with Frank Lampard, Kieron Dyer and 'a clutch of young girls'

2000 Joins Leeds for £18m. Made club captain the following year

2002 Signs for United for a record £30m and wins title in his first season

2003 Banned eight months for missing a drug test and misses out on Euro 2004

2007 Wins second Premier League title with United

2008 Made England captain