Duncan Ferguson Player Profile

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Player Details

  • Full Name: Duncan Cowan Ferguson
  • Born: December 27th, 1971 (Stirling)
  • Height: 6' 3
  • Position: Striker
  • Signed: July 1st, 1988
  • First Manager: Jim McLean
  • Career Totals: 88 appearances, 35 goals
  • Also Played For: Everton, Newcastle United, Rangers


Playing History

Season Win % Draw % Loss %
1992-93 33 15 7 1 51.5% 21.2% 27.3%
1991-92 39 (2) 16 4 0 48.8% 24.4% 26.8%
1990-91 13 (1) 4 0 0 50.0% 7.1% 42.9%
Totals: 85 (3) 35


 Apps = First Team Appearances (Sub Appearances) | Gls = Goals
 GtGR = Goals to Games Ratio | W/D/L - Games won, drawn or lost as percentage of games played in
 Yel = Yellow Cards/Cautions | Red = Red Cards/Dismissals

 Recent First Team Starts
 03/04/93 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (A) 2 - 1
 27/03/93 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H) 2 - 3
 20/03/93 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A) 4 - 1
 13/03/93 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A) 0 - 1
 09/03/93 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H) 0 - 0

 Recent First Team Goals
 27/03/93 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H) 2 - 3
 06/03/93 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A) 3 - 1
 27/02/93 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H) 1 - 0
 13/02/93 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A) 4 - 0
 09/01/93 3rd Round vs. Meadowbank (H) 3 - 1

 List of Goals Scored (click to expand)
 27/03/93 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 3
 06/03/93 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  3 - 1
 27/02/93 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  1 - 0
 13/02/93 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A)  4 - 0
 09/01/93 3rd Round vs. Meadowbank (H)  3 - 1
 26/12/92 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 0
 03/10/92 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 0
 12/09/92 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 1
 12/09/92 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 1
 29/08/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 0
 29/08/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 0
 18/08/92 3rd Round vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 0
 18/08/92 3rd Round vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 0
 08/08/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 1
 01/08/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 0
 02/05/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 1
 25/04/92 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 0
 18/04/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  2 - 0
 28/03/92 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 3
 22/02/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 2
 01/02/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 1
 26/01/92 3rd Round vs. Berwick (H)  6 - 0
 26/01/92 3rd Round vs. Berwick (H)  6 - 0
 01/01/92 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  4 - 0
 29/10/91 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  3 - 2
 26/10/91 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  3 - 1
 05/10/91 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (A)  4 - 0
 21/09/91 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 1
 14/09/91 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 1
 07/09/91 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (H)  3 - 0
 10/08/91 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  3 - 4
 06/04/91 Semi Final vs. St Johnstone (N)  2 - 1
 13/03/91 5th Round vs. Dundee (H)  3 - 1
 02/03/91 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (H)  1 - 0
 29/01/91 3rd Round Replay vs. East Fife (H)  2 - 1

 List of Games Played (click to expand)
 03/04/93 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (A)  2 - 1
 27/03/93 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  2 - 3
 20/03/93 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  4 - 1
 13/03/93 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 1
 09/03/93 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  0 - 0
 06/03/93 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  3 - 1
 27/02/93 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  1 - 0
 24/02/93 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  0 - 0
 20/02/93 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  0 - 0
 13/02/93 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A)  4 - 0
 16/01/93 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 2
 09/01/93 3rd Round vs. Meadowbank (H)  3 - 1
 05/01/93 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  2 - 3
 02/01/93 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  1 - 2
 26/12/92 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 0
 12/12/92 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 2
 01/12/92 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (H)  2 - 1
 31/10/92 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 24/10/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (A)  1 - 1
 17/10/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 1
 07/10/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  1 - 1
 03/10/92 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 0
 19/09/92 Premier Division vs. Dundee (H)  0 - 1
 12/09/92 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  2 - 1
 02/09/92 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  1 - 2
 29/08/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 0
 22/08/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 1
 18/08/92 3rd Round vs. St Mirren (H)  3 - 0
 15/08/92 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 2
 11/08/92 2nd Round vs. QOS (H)  6 - 0
 08/08/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  1 - 1
 05/08/92 Premier Division vs. Partick Th (A)  1 - 0
 01/08/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 0
 02/05/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  2 - 1
 25/04/92 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (A)  1 - 0
 18/04/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  2 - 0
 11/04/92 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  1 - 2
 04/04/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (H)  2 - 1
 28/03/92 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 3
 21/03/92 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  2 - 0
 17/03/92 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  0 - 1
 14/03/92 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 0
 07/03/92 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 0
 29/02/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 1
 22/02/92 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 2
 11/02/92 4th Round vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 2
 08/02/92 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  0 - 1
 01/02/92 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 1
 26/01/92 3rd Round vs. Berwick (H)  6 - 0
 11/01/92 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (H)  2 - 1
 04/01/92 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (A)  3 - 1
 01/01/92 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  4 - 0
 28/12/91 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (A)  2 - 3
 21/12/91 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  0 - 2
 14/12/91 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (H)  0 - 0
 07/12/91 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  1 - 1
 03/12/91 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (A)  1 - 1
 23/11/91 Premier Division vs. Hearts (H)  0 - 1
 16/11/91 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (H)  2 - 1
 09/11/91 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  1 - 1
 06/11/91 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (A)  2 - 1
 02/11/91 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (A)  1 - 0
 29/10/91 Premier Division vs. Rangers (H)  3 - 2
 26/10/91 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (A)  3 - 1
 12/10/91 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  1 - 4
 08/10/91 Premier Division vs. Airdrie (H)  0 - 0
 05/10/91 Premier Division vs. Falkirk (A)  4 - 0
 28/09/91 Premier Division vs. Motherwell (H)  2 - 2
 21/09/91 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 1
 14/09/91 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  1 - 1
 07/09/91 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (H)  3 - 0
 03/09/91 Quarter Final vs. Dunfermline (A)  1 - 3
 13/08/91 Premier Division vs. St Mirren (H)  4 - 1
 10/08/91 Premier Division vs. Celtic (H)  3 - 4
 18/05/91 Final vs. Motherwell (N)  3 - 4
 11/05/91 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (A)  0 - 1
 06/04/91 Semi Final vs. St Johnstone (N)  2 - 1
 23/03/91 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  1 - 2
 13/03/91 5th Round vs. Dundee (H)  3 - 1
 02/03/91 Premier Division vs. Dunfermline (H)  1 - 0
 23/02/91 4th Round vs. Airdrie (H)  2 - 0
 19/02/91 Premier Division vs. St Johnstone (A)  1 - 0
 16/02/91 Premier Division vs. Hearts (A)  1 - 2
 09/02/91 Premier Division vs. Hibernian (H)  0 - 0
 02/02/91 Premier Division vs. Celtic (A)  0 - 1
 29/01/91 3rd Round Replay vs. East Fife (H)  2 - 1
 24/11/90 Premier Division vs. Aberdeen (H)  2 - 3
 10/11/90 Premier Division vs. Rangers (A)  2 - 1


Biography

Duncan was a schoolboy international who came through the United youth system after signing from Carse Thistle. A part of the successful BP Youth Cup winning side of 1990, the young striker played in pre-season friendlies against Raith Rovers at Starks Park and an Australian XI at Tannadice prior to the 1990-91 season. Three months later he made his competitive debut against Rangers at Ibrox Stadium, coming off the bench in a 2-1 victory. He gradually established himself as a first team regular, scoring his first goal for the Club against East Fife in the Scottish Cup, and became part of the Scotland Under-21 squad. At the end of the 1990-91 season he was a runner up with United in the Scottish Cup, after playing in the final defeat to Motherwell.

In 1991-92, Duncan was United’s top scorer and began to attract attention from clubs south of the border, and his reputation was enhanced by a Scotland cap in May 1992, during the national teams build up for the European Championship in Sweden. He would go on to win four full caps whilst playing with United, including an appearance at Euro'92 against the Netherlands, and would gain a further three caps before a personal fall out with the SFA ended his international career.

A brief fall out with manager Jim McLean during the 1992-93 season - due to the ongoing transfer saga - did not affect the striker's goalscoring form, and at the end of that campaign the Club reluctantly began to accept bids for the player. A deal was concluded with Leeds United, but the striker rejected their terms and agreed a move to Rangers for £4 million - a then record transfer fee between British clubs.

In his first season with Rangers, he collected a Premier Division winners medal, but played in the Rangers side that lost to Dundee United in the Scottish Cup final in May 1994. Towards the end of that season, Duncan was involved in an incident against Raith Rovers that would later lead to him receiving a three-month prison sentence.

In October 1994 Duncan went on loan to Everton, a deal that was made permanent two months later. He played a key role in Everton avoiding relegation and helped the club win the FA Cup in May 1995. He was controversially sold to Newcastle United for around £7 million in November 1998, collecting a runners-up medal in the 1999 FA Cup final. After an injury hit two seasons at St James Park, he returned to Everton to see out his career, later taking up a coaching role.





Debut (as sub)

November 10th, 1990
Rangers 1 - 2 Dundee United

League (Premier Division)

Full Debut

November 24th, 1990
Dundee United 2 - 3 Aberdeen

League (Premier Division)


International Career (Scotland)

Caps: 7

Goals: 0

International Debut: May 17th, 1992 v. United States

United's top scorer in 1991-92, Duncan Ferguson earned a call up to Andy Roxburgh's Scotland squad and played in two Euro '92 warm up matches against the USA and Canada. He made the final squad for the European Championship finals, and came off the bench in Scotland's first match of the competition, in a 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands in Gothenburg. A memorable performance in a friendly against Germany at Ibrox Stadium was his last cap as a United player, with this performance grabbing the attention of several clubs up and down the UK. Although he went of to have a long and successful career in English football, Ferguson only made another three appearances for his country, as he retired from the International set up in 1997 after a fall out with the SFA.

Click here for a full list of international matches for this player


Timeline

  • Date of Birth

    Duncan was born on this date in Stirling.

    Monday, December 27th, 1971

  • Signed For Dundee United

    Duncan was a schoolboy international who came through the United youth system after signing from Carse Thistle. A part of the successful BP Youth Cup winning side of 1990, the young striker played in pre-season friendlies against Raith Rovers at Starks Park and an Australian XI at Tannadice prior to the 1990-91 season. Three months later he made his competitive debut against Rangers at Ibrox Stadium, coming off the bench in a 2-1 victory. He gradually established himself as a first team regular, scoring his first goal for the Club against East Fife in the Scottish Cup, and became part of the Scotland Under-21 squad. At the end of the 1990-91 season he was a runner up with United in the Scottish Cup, after playing in the final defeat to Motherwell.

    Friday, July 1st, 1988

  • Debut - Rangers 1 - 2 Dundee United

    Conditions were misty and the pitch greasy for our visit to Ibrox. Dave Bowman,Christian Dailly, Gijs Steinmann and Brian Welsh were recalled to the side. The men who dropped out were the suspended Freddy Van Der Hoorn, Dave Narey, Mixu Paatetainen and Alex Cleland, who was on the bench. Along side him was Duncan Ferguson included in the first team for the first time. Rangers were first to go close when Hurlock thundered a volley just past after three minutes. The Ibrox side then squandered, or rather Alan Main's brilliance prevented them taking the lead. Brian Welsh was adjudged to have pushed Hateley in the box, but Alan Main dived full length to save McCoist's spot-kick and then throw himself at the Ibrox striker's feet to block his follow up effort. That was to be the first of several tremendous saves by the United keeper.

    Saturday, November 10th, 1990

  • First Goal - Dundee United 2 - 1 East Fife

    After the narrow squeak at Bayview, it wasn't anticipated that this replay would prove any easier than that initial meeting. In many ways the second match was a mirror-image of the first. East Fife again played their bustling, containing game and even took the lead at exactly the same time as they had done the previous Saturday! The major difference this time was that we gave a far more disciplined display which brought us an equaliser within ten minutes of the Filers going ahead, although it took us until extra-time to finally breakdown the Fifers brave and stubborn resistance. For the replay, manager Jim McLean made two changes. Michael O'Neill came in for Brian Welsh whilst Duncan Ferguson took over from Christian Dailly up front. The two displaced players were on the bench. Although we had a few openings in the early stages East Fife once more tried to frustrate us and did so with more than a modicum of success. On the half hour mark the Fifers, as they had done on Saturday, shocked us by taking the lead. Cowell, Saturday's goalscorer sent over a cross which Stuart Wilson met on the volley and directed a shot just inside the post. Immediately we were stung into retaliation and Duncan Ferguson blasted over, and then Freddy Van Der Hoorn shot narrowly past after a neat interchange of passes with John Clark. Unlike the previous match, there was only a short period of anxiety before the equaliser came. Five minutes before half-time Darren Jackson sent over a cross which Duncan Ferguson headed down which allowed John Clark to blast in the equaliser from just inside the box.

    Tuesday, January 29th, 1991

  • Last Goal - Dundee United 2 - 3 Celtic

    Play raged from end to end right from the off, but we fell behind to what only can be described as a bizarre goal. In attempting to clear, skipper Maurice Malpas knocked the ball straight up in the air. Nicholas failed to control it when it came to ground and the ball ran loose to Frank McAvennie who squeezed it home.

    Saturday, March 27th, 1993

  • Last Appearance - Falkirk 1 - 2 Dundee United

    Defeat was something the home side couldn't contemplate given their precarious league position and there is no doubt that the Bairns made the more brisk beginning. However, United went on to dominate the remainder of the half and eventually went ahead two minutes before the interval. Freddy van der Hoorn back in the side for the first time in two and a half months played a ball up the left and Paddy Connolly cut inside before slotting the ball into the far corner.

    Saturday, April 3rd, 1993