Derek Ferguson

Derek Ferguson (born 31 July 1967) is a Scottish football player and manager. A creative midfield player, Ferguson is best remembered for his time with Rangers and Heart of Midlothian. He also played for Dundee, Sunderland, Falkirk, Dunfermline Athletic, Portadown, Partick Thistle, Adelaide Force, Ross County, Clydebank, Alloa Athletic, Hamilton Academical, Raith Rovers and made two appearances for Scotland. Ferguson is the elder brother of Barry Ferguson, who also played for Rangers and Scotland. His autobiography, Big Brother, written with Bill Leckie, was published in 2006.

Club career

Rangers

Ferguson joined his first senior club, Rangers, from Gartcosh United in 1982. He enjoyed an early experience of first-team involvement when picked to play in Tom Forsyth's testimonial match in 1983, aged only 15. He made his competitive debut in the 1983–84 season and within a year became a first team regular at Ibrox.

However, over the next couple of seasons Ferguson gradually fell out of favour at Rangers, a tempestuous relationship with manager Graeme Souness preventing him from developing as expected. In 1989–90 he was loaned to Dundee and it became clear his future was not to be at Ibrox.