Darren Ferguson

Darren Ferguson

Ferguson managing Peterborough United in 2013
Personal information
Full name Darren Ferguson[1]
Date of birth (1972-02-09) 9 February 1972[1]
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Doncaster Rovers (manager)
Youth career
Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1994 Manchester United 27 (0)
1994–1999 Wolverhampton Wanderers 117 (4)
1999 Sparta Rotterdam 14 (1)
1999–2007 Wrexham 310 (51)
2007–2008 Peterborough United 0 (0)
Total 468 (56)
National team
1992–1993 Scotland U21 5 (0)
Teams managed
2007–2009 Peterborough United
2010 Preston North End
2011–2015 Peterborough United
2015– Doncaster Rovers

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Darren Ferguson (born 9 February 1972) is a Scottish professional football manager and former player, who is the manager of League Two club Doncaster Rovers. Prior to that, he was twice the manager of Peterborough United. Between his first and second stints with Peterborough, he also managed Preston North End.

As a player, Ferguson was managed at Manchester United by his father Alex Ferguson, but spent most of his playing career at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wrexham in the lower divisions of English football.

Ferguson's first managerial appointment was as player-manager of League Two Peterborough United in January 2007. After two successive promotions, and guiding the club to the second-tier of English football for the first time in 17 seasons, Ferguson was relieved of his duties on 9 November 2009, with Peterborough United at the foot of The Championship.

Ferguson was appointed Preston North End manager on 6 January 2010. He was dismissed on 29 December 2010 after a string of poor results. On 12 January 2011, he was again appointed as the manager of Peterborough United, where he took the club to the League One play-off Final at Old Trafford, and in this match won promotion to the Football League Championship, the club's third promotion in four years, with a 3–0 victory over Huddersfield Town.

Peterborough United spent two seasons in the Championship after winning promotion. On 4 May 2013, Ferguson's side were relegated to League One after losing to Crystal Palace 3–2 on the final match of the season.

Playing career

Ferguson played for Manchester United under his father, Alex, from 1990 to 1994.

Ferguson was born in Glasgow.[1] He is the son of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. He has two siblings: a twin brother, Jason, and an elder brother, Mark.

His father brought him through the youth ranks at Manchester United, giving him his first team debut in 1990. Ferguson played in United's first 15 games of the new Premier League in 1992–93 during the absence of the injured Bryan Robson, and although he did not start a league game after November, he played enough games to qualify for a title winner's medal at the end of the season.[3]

However, his first-team chances were very limited in 1993–94 and he was transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers for £250,000. His final season at Old Trafford brought just five first team appearances, and with the introduction of squad numbers in the Premier League that campaign he had been issued with the number 18 shirt which would next be worn by Simon Davies.

He spent five years at Wolves, during which they qualified for the Division One play-offs twice and finished in the top 10 on four occasions, but never gained promotion to the Premier League.

He left Wolves in 1999 to sign for Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam. Between 1999 and 2007 he played for Wrexham making more than 300 appearances, scoring over 50 goals and helping them win promotion to Division Two in 2003. Ferguson also won the Football League Trophy with Wrexham after scoring the second goal in a 2–0 win over Southend United in 2004–05.

Football management

In 2001, 29-year-old Ferguson was linked with the management post at Wrexham, following the departure of Brian Flynn. At the time, he assisted caretaker manager Joey Jones.[4] After manager Denis Smith was sacked in January 2007, Ferguson was again touted as a candidate, having by now played well over 300 games for the club, but coach Brian Carey was appointed instead.[5]

There were suggestions that Ferguson and Carey had clashed, as Ferguson had expected to be appointed. Carey, who had left Ferguson on the substitutes bench for his first game, denied this.[6] The pair had argued a year previously, following a defeat to Leyton Orient.[7] Ferguson later stated he was disappointed not to be considered for the management position, and stated the club would have done better under him than they did under Carey.[8]

Peterborough United (2007–2009)

Shortly after his father celebrated 20 years as manager of Manchester United, Ferguson followed him into football management. In January 2007 he left Wrexham to become player-manager of fellow League Two side Peterborough United. Previous manager Keith Alexander had been sacked after a run of six straight defeats.[9] He led the club to a 10th-placed finish in his first season of management. In his first full season of management, he took Peterborough to second place in League Two, gaining promotion. He was named League Two manager of the month for March 2008, after Peterborough won six games out of eight in the month.

In his second full season, 2008–09, he led Peterborough to second place and automatic promotion to the Championship. He has also won the League One Manager of the Month award for March 2009, following six straight wins. Ferguson left Peterborough in November 2009, by mutual consent, with Posh bottom of the table.[10]

Preston North End (2010)

In January 2010, Ferguson signed as manager of Preston North End.[11] His first game at home as a manager was an FA Cup match against Chelsea on 23 January 2010 which his side lost 2–0. On 14 September 2010, Ferguson was charged with misconduct by the FA after his behaviour in the tunnel towards the referee after a 4–3 Championship defeat by Burnley.[12] After 49 games in charge, winning 13, drawing 12 and losing 24 games, he was sacked as manager on 29 December 2010, with Preston North End bottom of the Championship.[13]

Following his sacking by Preston, his father Sir Alex Ferguson immediately recalled all three Manchester United players on loan at Preston; Joshua King, Ritchie De Laet, and Matty James.[14] In addition, the Stoke City manager Tony Pulis recalled the two Stoke players on loan at Preston; Danny Pugh and Michael Tonge. This meant that in a single week, Preston had lost five key first-team players, effectively sealing the team's relegation.[15][16][17]

During a disappointing period as manager of Preston, in a spell which lasted less than a year, Ferguson had one notably positive result in September 2010 when his Preston side beat Leeds United 6–4 in an extraordinary match after being 4–1 down at Elland Road. After the match Ferguson said: "I have never been involved in such an amazing game."[18]

Return to Peterborough (2011–2015)

In January 2011, Gary Johnson left his job as manager at Peterborough United, with the club several points adrift of the playoff places. On 12 January 2011, Ferguson was re-appointed as manager at Peterborough on a four-and-a-half-year contract.[19] His first match ended up in a defeat away to league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion, but the following week, in his first game at London Road since his return, Peterborough beat Hartlepool United 4–0. He then suffered the embarrassment of a 1–2 away defeat at local team Colchester United after the Posh took the lead within 60 seconds. Peterborough United's promotion dream was given a boost with a 5–3 win over promotion rivals Sheffield Wednesday. A 0–5 away thumping of Oldham Athletic kept Ferguson's men within touching distance of the automatic promotion places.

The club ultimately finished fourth in League One, and after beating Milton Keynes 4–3 on aggregate, reached the play-off Final at Old Trafford against favourites Huddersfield Town. Peterborough went on to defeat Huddersfield 3–0 to clinch a return to the Championship, just one year after they had been relegated. By the end of the season, Peterborough had become the top-scoring side in the whole country, with 106 goals in total; their 46 league games generated a total of 181 goals, or 3.93 per game.

Peterborough spent two seasons in the Championship after winning promotion, before being relegated back to League One after losing to Crystal Palace 3–2 on the final day of the season. Peterborough had led the match with seven minutes remaining, but went on to lose in the final minute; a draw would have been enough to keep Peterborough in the Championship. Their total of 54 points during that season is to date the highest amount accrued by a relegated side in Championship history.[20] On 21 February 2015, following a 3–0 away defeat at Milton Keynes Dons which left the team 15th in the League One table, Ferguson left Peterborough United by mutual consent.[21]

Doncaster Rovers

Ferguson was appointed manager of League One club Doncaster Rovers on 16 October 2015.[22] However they were relegated at the end of that season.

Personal life

In June 2003, he married Nadine Metcalfe.[23] The couple, who have two children, Charlie (Nadine's son from a previous relationship, born 1999) and Grace (2002),[24] separated in August 2007.[25]

On 23 October 2007, Ferguson was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his estranged wife on the driveway of his father's home in Wilmslow, Cheshire. He was released on bail.[26] He appeared at Macclesfield Magistrates Court on 23 January 2008 charged with grievous bodily harm, to which he pleaded not guilty.[27] On 10 April 2008 he changed his plea to guilty and was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £200 in court costs. This event has been latched onto by supporters of rival teams, leading to terrace chants of "He hooks with his left, he jabs with his right, that Darren Ferguson, he beats up his wife".[28]

Ferguson married Nicola Noblet in 2009, with whom he had a second son, Frankie, born a year later. He lives with Nicola and three children in Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Honours

Player

Manchester United

Wrexham

Individual

Manager

Peterborough United

Individual

Managerial statistics

As of match played 3 December 2016
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
PWDLWin %
Peterborough United 20 January 2007 9 November 2009 145 73 32 40 50.3 [9][29]
Preston North End 6 January 2010 29 December 2010 49 13 11 25 26.5 [13][29]
Peterborough United 12 January 2011 21 February 2015 222 88 41 93 39.6 [29]
Doncaster Rovers 18 October 2015 Present 61 24 13 24 39.3 [29][30]
Total 477 198 97 182 41.5 —

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Darren Ferguson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Darren Ferguson Player Profile". MUFCInfo.com. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  3. ↑ "Darren Ferguson - Manchester United Player Profile & Stats". www.mufcinfo.com. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  4. ↑ "Dragons job 'too soon' for Ferguson". BBC Sport. 25 September 2001. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  5. ↑ "Carey to lead Dragons for season". BBC Sport. 12 January 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "Carey praises departed Ferguson". BBC Sport. 21 January 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "Wrexham deny Ferguson 'bust-up'". BBC Sport. 23 January 2006. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  8. ↑ "Wrexham's Carey error – Ferguson". BBC Sport. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  9. 1 2 "Ferguson named Peterborough boss". BBC Sport. 20 January 2007. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  10. ↑ "Ferguson axed as Posh boss". The Sun. London. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  11. ↑ "Darren Ferguson named as Preston North End manager". BBC Sport. 6 January 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Preston boss Darren Ferguson handed misconduct charge". BBC Sport. 14 September 2010.
  13. 1 2 "Darren Ferguson sacked as Preston North End boss". BBC. 29 December 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  14. ↑ Edwards, John (31 December 2010). "Vengeful Sir Alex Ferguson orders Preston loan stars back to Manchester United after son Darren is sacked". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  15. ↑ Edwards, John (31 December 2010). "Tony Pulis follows pal Sir Alex Ferguson's lead by scrapping Preston loan deals for Stoke duo". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  16. ↑ Wallace, Sam (1 January 2011). "Preston fear the Ferguson effect as Stoke recall pair". The Independent. London. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  17. ↑ Willacy, Gavin (6 January 2011). "Ferguson gets spiteful as Preston prepare for relegation". When Saturday Comes. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  18. ↑ "Leeds 4–6 Preston". BBC Sport. 28 September 2010.
  19. ↑ "Darren Ferguson returns as Peterborough United manager". BBC Sport. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  20. ↑ Bevan, Chris (4 May 2013). "Crystal Palace 3 Peterborough 2". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  21. ↑ "Darren Ferguson: Peterborough boss leaves after MK Dons defeat". BBC Sport. 21 February 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  22. ↑ "Darren Ferguson: Doncaster appoint ex-Peterborough boss". BBC Sport. 16 October 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  23. ↑ MacDonald, Robbie (9 July 2003). "Nadine's "Match of the Day"". Oldham Advertiser. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  24. ↑ "The WAGs (property) boutique". Daily Mail. Your Place Abroad. 15 April 2007. Archived from the original on 20 August 2010. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  25. ↑ "Fergie jr on assault charge". The Sun. London. 9 January 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  26. ↑ "Posh boss Ferguson arrested". Peterborough Today. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  27. ↑ "Peterborough boss denies assault". BBC Sport. 23 January 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  28. ↑ "Ferguson's son admits wife attack". BBC Sport. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Managers: Darren Ferguson". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  30. ↑ "Doncaster Rovers 0–1 Bradford City". BBC Sport. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2016.

External links

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