FERGUSON FACTFILE
Born: Hamilton, 1978 (Age 36) Playing Career: The brother of Rangers star Derek, Ferguson joined
the club as a teenager and made his debut aged 18 in 1996. A technical, intelligent playmaker, he scored 24 goals in 151 games for the Scottish giants, winning three SPL titles, three Scottish Cups and four individual player of the year awards before joining Premier League Blackburn
in 2003. However, a fractured kneecap hindered his progress and after 36 games in 18 months, Ferguson rejoined Rangers for £4.5m – the outstanding balance on his original £7.5m transfer. Yet again he became captain
and would eventually leave in 2009 with another two titles and 137 appearances. Signed by former Rangers boss Alex McLeish for Birmingham, Fer guson won player of the year in his first season and then helped the Blues overcome Arsenal to win the 2011 Carling Cup. When Birmingham were relegated, he joined fellow Championship side Blackpool, playing all but four games in 2011-12 and skippering the Seasiders to the play-off final. After a spell on loan at Fleetwood, Fer guson was reinstated to the Blackpool side by Paul Ince in February 2013 befor e becoming playermanager. Ferguson also won 45 caps for Scotland, scoring thr ee goals, before retiring from international football in 2009. Managerial Career: Having spent the last four years doing his coaching badges in Northern Ireland, Ferguson completed the UEFA A licence
in the summer of 2013. And when Ince was sacked in January , Ferguson was asked to take caretaker charge. He won two and lost seven of
his first 13 games. wrong club,” said the Dutchman. “Going to Blackburn and battling relegation was a mistake. I think if he’d gone to a club in the top four, you’d have seen in England how good Barry really is.”
Ferguson would get a measure of redemption south of the border, winning Birmingham’s player of the year in 2010 and collecting the Carling Cup despite playing much of the final with a broken rib.
“That’s Barry,” said Blues boss Alex McLeish.“He’s got amazing toughness. His playing record is amazing over the years because he never gets injured.”
Ferguson’s final stop was Blackpool, where his intelligent passing game and midfield nous meshed perfectly with Ian Holloway’s philosophy. A Championship play-off finalist in his first season, managerial changes marred his second and Ferguson even found himself on loan at League Two Fleetwood.
But having been recalled by Paul Ince, the former England man’s sacking in January saw Ferguson offered the chance to start an unlikely managerial career.
“I suspect that, similar to myself, the notion of going into management didn’t strike Barry until late in his career,” said Rangers boss and longtime friend Ally McCoist.
“But he’s an intelligent guy, a terrific leader. Don’t forget that as a young man he was entrusted with the captaincy of a side which included the likes of Jorg Albertz, Stefan Klos and Giovanni van Bronckhurst.
“And the chequered past he’s led, on and off the park, will stand him in good stead because he’ll be equipped to handle any off-the-wall characters in his dressing room at Blackpool.”