Ian Ferguson (born 15 March 1967) is a Scottish football coach and retired professional player.
.jpg) Ferguson in 1987 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 15 March 1967 | ||
| Place of birth | Glasgow, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Clyde | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1984–1986 | Clyde | 26 | (4) |
| 1986–1988 | St Mirren | 57 | (10) |
| 1988–2000 | Rangers | 236 | (24) |
| 2000–2002 | Dunfermline Athletic | 60 | (2) |
| 2002–2004 | Northern Spirit | 37 | (3) |
| 2005–2006 | Central Coast Mariners | 3 | (0) |
| Total | 416 | (43) | |
| International career | |||
| 1986–1987 | Scotland U21[2] | 6 | (1) |
| 1987 | Scotland B[3] | 1 | (0) |
| 1988–1997 | Scotland | 9 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2009–2010 | North Queensland Fury | ||
| 2010–2013 | Perth Glory | ||
| 2013–2017 | Northern Fury | ||
| 2021– | Stirling Macedonia | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He started his career with Clyde, then moved to St Mirren in 1986, scoring the winning goal as the club won the 1987 Scottish Cup Final. Ferguson moved to Rangers in 1988 and stayed with the Ibrox club for 12 years, during which time he helped them win nine consecutive Scottish league championships. He has since been inducted to the club's Hall of Fame.[4] He played for Dunfermline Athletic for two seasons, before emigrating to Australia where he played for Northern Spirit and Central Coast Mariners. Ferguson appeared in nine full international matches for Scotland.
Since retiring as a player, he has managed North Queensland Fury, Perth Glory, Northern Fury and Stirling Macedonia.
Club career edit
St Mirren edit
Raised in the Parkhead area of Glasgow within a few blocks of Celtic Park, Ferguson grew up as a supporter of Rangers.[5][6][7] He started his career with Clyde (he had an unsuccessful trial with Aberdeen in 1983),[1] but was transferred to St Mirren for £60,000 in 1986.[8] Aged 20, he scored the winning goal in the 1987 Scottish Cup Final, as St Mirren won 1–0 against Dundee United.[9]
Rangers edit
Nine months after winning the Scottish Cup, he transferred to Rangers for £850,000 – still the record fee received by St Mirren[10] – turning down offers from English clubs to become part of the strong squad being assembled at Ibrox by Graeme Souness.[7] He is remembered as a key player of the era at the club,[4] appearing 336 times and scoring 42 goals.[11] Along with Ally McCoist and Richard Gough, he played a part in every season of Rangers' historic run of nine titles in a row between 1988–89 and 1996–97 under managers Souness and Walter Smith.[11][12] Having picked up his first winner's medal a decade earlier, scoring in the 1988 Scottish League Cup Final,[12] he also featured in the first title win with manager Dick Advocaat in 1998–99, and appeared as a substitute in the League Cup and Scottish Cup finals that season.[11][13] His playing time became limited under Advocaat, and he moved on to Dunfermline Athletic in 2000.
He was given a testimonial match by Rangers, played against Sunderland on 21 July 1999.[12]
Dunfermline Athletic edit
Ferguson spent two seasons in Fife, during which he helped newly promoted Dunfermline to keep their place in the top division (9th in 2000–01) and then improve it (6th in 2001–02). He then moved to Australia to see out the final years as a player and begin his managerial career.
International career edit
Ferguson won nine international caps for Scotland, achieved at irregular intervals over a period of nine years.[14] His last appearance was in a goalless draw against Estonia in February 1997.[14] After the game, Ferguson was overheard by a microphone apparently swearing at the Scotland supporters.[15][16] Ferguson apologised to the Scotland manager, Craig Brown, and he was included in the next squad.[15]
Managerial career edit
North Queensland Fury FC edit
On 15 September 2008, Ferguson was confirmed as the new manager of North Queensland FC leaving his post as assistant manager at Central Coast Mariners. He took up the post straight away in order to give the team the best preparation possible for their inaugural season in Australia's Hyundai A League.[17] Ferguson lasted only one year with the Fury, when the club folded due to financial instability.
Perth Glory FC edit
In 2010 Ferguson moved to become the assistant to David Mitchell at the Perth Glory at the end of the 2009–10 season[18] and becoming the coach on 12 October 2010 after David Mitchell resigned.[19] On 27 March 2012 he signed a two-year contract extension with the club.[20]
Ferguson successfully guided Perth Glory to their first A-League Grand Final in April 2012, after beating Minor A-League Premiers Central Coast Mariners in a penalty shootout at the Mariners' home ground in Gosford. However they lost the subsequent Grand Final 2–1 following a late comeback from Brisbane Roar who were awarded a controversial injury-time penalty.[21]
Ferguson's contract was mutually terminated on 11 February 2013 as Perth Glory manager, after five straight losses and six hours of game time without a goal scored.
Northern Fury FC (NPL Queensland) edit
In 2013, Ferguson was announced as the Director of Football and Coaching at the Townsville NPL Queensland franchise Northern Fury FC.[22]
On 16 February 2017, Ferguson resigned as Northern Fury manager, less than a fortnight from the beginning of the Fury's season. He was replaced by Paul Roncato.[23]
Stirling Macedonia FC (WA National Premier League) edit
On 3 November 2020, Stirling Macedonia FC announced Ian Ferguson as the new First team coach.[24]
Ferguson coached Stirling to promotion of the WA State League 1 and back into the top flight, where they immediately challenged for the title and became one of the top clubs in the NPL.
Career statistics edit
International appearances edit
- As of 05:30, 9 May 2019 (UTC)[14]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1990 | — | ||
| 1991 | — | ||
| 1992 | — | ||
| 1993 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1995 | — | ||
| 1996 | — | ||
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 9 | 0 | |
Managerial record edit
- As of 9 February 2013
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| North Queensland Fury | 
|
15 September 2008 | 6 April 2010 | 27 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 29.63 |
| Perth Glory |
|
12 October 2010 | 9 February 2013 | 72 | 23 | 14 | 35 | 31.94 |
| Total | 99 | 31 | 22 | 46 | 31.31 | |||
Honours edit
Player edit
St Mirren
Rangers
- Scottish League (10):[11] 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99
- Scottish Cup:[11] 1992–93, 1995–96, 1998–99; runner-up 1988–89, 1993–94, 1998–99
- Scottish League Cup:[11] 1988–89, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1998–99
Manager edit
Perth Glory
Stirling Macedonia
- NPL Western Australia: Top 4 Final winner 2023
References edit
- ^ a b Ian Ferguson, AFC Heritage Trust
- ^ "Scotland U21 profile". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- ^ "Scotland B profile". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- ^ a b "Hall of Fame: Ian Ferguson". Rangers F.C. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ Ian Ferguson talks about hard times in management and his attachment to both Rangers and St Mirren, Richard Wilson, The Herald, 21 Mar 2010, via Inside Sport
- ^ Ian Ferguson MM Lodge Scotia No.178 Archived 18 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow
- ^ a b Rangers legend Ian Ferguson lifts lid on how he forced move from St Mirren as they tried to sell him to Manchester United, Lindsay Herron, Daily Record, 15 February 2018
- ^ Young, Chick (10 November 1987). "Saints Boss Slams Fergie". Evening Times. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ a b McGuigan, Thomas (17 March 2010). "Former St Mirren skipper Abercromby recalls final win". BBC. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ^ "Club Records". St Mirren.info. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Rangers player Ian Ferguson". Fitbastats.com. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
- ^ a b c Jack, Christopher (12 January 2017). "Games of our lives: Rangers legend Ian Ferguson on cup glory, Old Firm heroics and an Ibrox farewell". Evening Times. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- ^ "Rangers take treble". BBC Sport. 29 May 1999. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ a b c Ian Ferguson at the Scottish Football Association
- ^ a b "Football: Ferguson forgiven by Brown". The Independent. London. 22 March 1997. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Ferguson blasts Tartan Army". Sky Sports. 24 April 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Ferguson To Coach New Franchise". Central Coast Mariners Official Site. 15 September 2008. Archived from the original on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 15 September 2008.
- ^ "Fergie Out at Fury, Joins Glory". FourFourTwo Australia. 6 April 2010. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010.
- ^ "News Display". Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ^ "Ferguson wins new two-year deal at Glory - the West Australian". Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ^ a b "Brisbane win amid late controversy". FTBL. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
- ^ "Fury ahead of the game". 8 November 2013.
- ^ Greco, John (16 February 2017). "Kruse scores in draw with McBreen's Eagles". A-League. Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ "Stirling Lions Coach Announcement". Facebook. 3 November 2020. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022.
External links edit
- Central Coast Mariners profile Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Rangers Hall of Fame profile Archived 17 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine