Duncan Ferguson returns to Goodison Park as part of the backroom staff:
Ferguson was afforded cult status during his two stints as a player on Merseyside, but has been out of football since retiring in 2006.
He was invited back by manager David Moyes to enable him to qualify as a full-time coach and was on the touchline for Everton's Under-18s clash with Crewe, which they won 4-1, last weekend. The invitation to Ferguson is part of a broader shake-up of the Everton Academy following the return of former assistant manager, Alan Irvine, who was appointed youth director last summer.
Ferguson has been working with Irvine and another Goodison legend, Kevin Sheedy, with the Under 18s and if he impresses it is likely to lead to a permanent role at the club.
“Duncan came back about a month ago and met me,” Moyes said. “He wants to watch and see what’s going on. He is back and helping Alan Irvine. He is not a qualified coach yet because he is going through his badges, but we have got him in and he’s happy to do the time and he working down at the academy. He is showing he really wants to do it. What I have to say is he is putting the hours and the effort in. He still has to get his Uefa ‘B’ licence and ‘A’ licence but he is shadowing Alan. He is out and about helping some of the younger teams here, he will get the chance to take some sessions. It could lead to something more, but what you need is your qualifications and that is the first thing.”
Ferguson, now 39, made over 200 appearances for Everton over two spells at the club. Always a maverick during his time at Goodison, Rangers and Newcastle, he was sent off six times during his spell at Everton. Such was his popularity among the Goodison faithful, especially due to the way he terrorised Liverpool during his heyday, his £8 million sale to Newcastle in 1999 effectively forced then chairman Peter Johnson out of the club. He returned to Everton 18 months later before quitting the game five years ago and has spent most of his time out of football living in Spain. Everton fans will be thrilled to see one their favourite sons return, although there is also a degree of surprise a notoriously private figure has opted to return to football.
Moyes admits he had not expected Ferguson to pursue a career in the game once his playing days were over, but is eager to help him down the right path.
“I have to say I didn’t foresee him going into coaching when I had him as a player,” Moyes said. “But Duncan has come back and I think he misses the smell of football a wee bit. If you look at the Everton legends in the eyes of the fans, coupled with the greats of Peter Reid, Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe, Graeme Sharp and all that crew, then Duncan is maybe one who could put himself close to those players.”
(taken from Telegraph)
Welcome back Big Dunc :wub: We've missed you