Rio Ferdinand stars in National Portrait Gallery's latest pitch to public

England football captain Rio Ferdinand is the new face of the National Portrait Gallery — in a campaign which has coincided with his rise to the role after John Terry's fall from grace.

The Manchester United centre-back, 31, who was promoted by England manager Fabio Capello on Friday, is being used to highlight lesser-known facts about famous faces in the gallery's collection. These include how Lord Nelson suffered from seasickness, Mary, Queen of Scots was a talented golfer and LS Lowry had a long-term job as a rent collector.

For four years from the age of 11, Ferdinand, who grew up in Peckham, attended classes at the Central School of Ballet in London on a scholarship before choosing football as a career.

The photograph was taken by Mark Guthrie in Manchester last March. It is now on show in the gallery, having been acquired for its permanent collection alongside other footballers including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Michael Owen and Theo Walcott. Paintings and photographs are selected for the work and the importance of the sitter.

Denise Ellitson, the National Portrait Gallery's head of marketing, said: "It's pure luck that we chose Rio and it's great for the campaign. We wanted to show we had contemporary photography and it really helps us that he's in the news."

Terry was sacked as captain after it emerged that he had a five-month affair with Vanessa Perroncel, the ex-girlfriend of his former Chelsea team-mate Wayne Bridge.

Rio Ferdinand, who runs his own charity, The Dream Foundation, to encourage children's interest in music and media, said: "I would be really pleased if a photograph of me helps encourage people to go to the National Portrait Gallery who might not otherwise have thought of it."

Last week the footballer attended an exhibition opening at the gallery run by Tyrone Wood.