| Barry Ferguson |
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Birth Place:
Glasgow
Birth Date:
02/02/1978
Playing Position:
Midfielder
Signed:
06/07/1994
International
Honours:
Scotland (13 Caps)
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Rangers’ youngster Barry Ferguson has been described as the hottest property in Scottish football.
Brother of former Ibrox star Derek, Ferguson came to Rangers as a schoolboy and joined the groundstaff when he was sixteen. He served his time cleaning boots and sweeping up, but was also earning rave reviews with his performances for the schoolboy and junior teams.
Progressing under the eyes of reserve team coaches, Ferguson made his first team debut against Hearts on the last day of the 96/97 season - and was voted man of the match.
The following year he was in and out of the side, appearing in a total of only seven League games. But with the arrival of Dick
Advocaat, Ferguson was handed a regular starting role in central midfield.
Ferguson, from
Bellshill, was a revelation. He was soon displaying the confidence to run games with the vision of a mature player and scored his first League goal in the 2-0 victory at Dunfermline in September 1998.
Comparisons were inevitable and he was rapidly spoken of as a worthy successor to Paul Gascoigne and Ian
Durrant. Scotland coach Craig Brown took notice of Ferguson's precocious talents and he won his first cap as a second-half substitute in the drawn European Championship qualifier in Lithuania.
Barry also prompted praise from around Europe. Last season Bayer Leverkusen coach Christophe Daum said his side could never afford a player like Ferguson, placing him in the £15million bracket with players like Alan Shearer.
And following his display in the first leg with Parma this season, Italian forward Marco di Vaio claimed Barry would take Serie A by storm and could undoubtedly choose which Italian team he wanted to play for.
Why the improvement? Ferguson says: "When I think back, I realise I was running about daft in games in my desire to impress. Dick's told me to stop doing that. He wants me to sit in one position, be a little more disciplined."
In March 2000, however, Ferguson became another Rangers injury victim when a fracture to his pelvis ruined his season just as it looked like he would gain his first Scotland starts and play an instrumental role in the climax to Rangers’ season.
The young Scot is unconcerned with all the words of wonder surrounding him and insists he just wants to get on with playing for Rangers. He confirmed this when he signed an extended 6-year deal in October 1999.
This was excellent news for all connected with Rangers, and a blow to the large European clubs who were hovering with open cheque books. His reputation was enhanced even further throughout the season with some commanding displays that eventually won him the Football Writers' Player of the Year award.
That kind of recognition won't keep the scouts away and Ferguson showed his worth to Gers by playing a mammoth 49 games - the most of any Light Blues player. Ferguson has started this season as a regular in the Rangers side and has shown all the sides of his game, including his temper.
Former boss Advocaat handed him the captaincy in October 2000 and his career has gone from strength to strength ever since.
Season 2001/2002 provided Barry with the biggest thrill of his Rangers career to date when he skippered the Club to the two domestic trophies.
Having played through the CIS Cup final with a fractured rib he then went on to score a crucial goal against Celtic to help clinch the Scottish Cup.
Despite missing out on the league season 01/02 is one Barry Ferguson will never forget.
He has already started the new campaign with a bang, forging a successful midfield partnership with Spanish sensation Mikel Arteta and Fernando Ricksen, and is determined to drive his beloved Rangers to the SPL title.
Baz made his 200th Light Blue appearance in the 3-0 win over Dunfermline in November 2002. Not bad for a 24 year old!
Appearance Stats: [Starts, subs, goals] | | Season | Club | SPL | TSC | CIS | Euro | Total | | 1996/97 | Rangers | 1 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 1 | 0 | 0 | | 1997/98 | Rangers | 6 | 1 | 0 | | 3 | 1 | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 9 | 2 | 0 | | 1998/99 | Rangers | 23 | 0 | 1 | | 3 | 0 | 0 | | 4 | 0 | 0 | | 10 | 0 | 0 | | 40 | 0 | 1 | | 1999/2000 | Rangers | 31 | 0 | 4 | | 5 | 0 | 0 | | 1 | 0 | 0 | | 12 | 0 | 0 | | 49 | 0 | 4 | | 2000/01 | Rangers | 30 | 0 | 2 | | 3 | 0 | 1 | | 3 | 0 | 1 | | 11 | 0 | 0 | | 47 | 0 | 4 | | 2001/02 | Rangers | 19 | 1 | 1 | | 5 | 0 | 2 | | 3 | 0 | 1 | | 7 | 1 | 3 | | 34 | 2 | 7 | | 2002/03 * | Rangers | 16 | 0 | 8 | | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 | 0 | 0 | | 2 | 0 | 0 | | 20 | 0 | 8 | | Total | 125 | 1 | 16 | | 19 | 1 | 3 | | 13 | 0 | 2 | | 42 | 1 | 3 | | 200 | 4 | 24 |
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