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Post by rugbytoffee on Jul 4, 2022 16:55:32 GMT
Everton assistant boss Duncan Ferguson has left the club as he looks to become a manager. The 50-year-old Scot, who worked under seven different managers at Goodison Park, has been caretaker twice - in December 2019 and January this year. Ferguson scored 73 goals in 273 appearances for Everton in two spells from 1994 to 2006. He said: "It's been an incredibly difficult one, but I need to move on, to take that next step in my career." "Being a caretaker manager has given me confidence to step into management," added Ferguson. "The club has been fantastic with me. They've supported me all the way through my journey." Ferguson was briefly caretaker between the tenures of Marco Silva and Carlo Ancelotti, and Rafael Benitez and current boss Frank Lampard. "It was difficult last season but this club is definitely heading in the right direction. It's a fantastic club," he said. "The team is in good hands with Frank as manager. He's been first class and he wanted me to stay on." www.bbc.co.uk/sp
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Post by Everton News. on Jul 4, 2022 17:24:08 GMT
Everton can confirm that Duncan Ferguson has left his role as First-Team Assistant Manager to pursue his managerial ambition.
The Club legend, inducted as an Everton Giant in 2011 after two memorable stints as a player at Goodison Park - in which he captained the side under three different managers - returned to the Blues to coach in the Academy that same year and in 2014, after working as Under-18s Assistant Manager and gaining his UEFA Pro coaching licence, was promoted to a position with the First Team.
The Scot underlined his iconic status with two spells as caretaker manager. The first of those in December 2019 saw Ferguson oversee a victory over Chelsea at a rocking Goodison and go unbeaten in further matches against Manchester United and Arsenal.
He remained an instrumental figure on the backroom teams of subsequent managers and was described by Frank Lampard as “an Everton legend, who… the players respect, the Club respects and the fans respect”.
Ferguson told evertontv: “It’s been a massive decision for me. An incredibly difficult one but I need to move on, to take that next step in my career and look for that new challenge. Being a caretaker manager has given me confidence to step into management.
“The Club has been fantastic with me. They’ve supported me all the way through my journey.
“You’ve got the Chairman who has supported me as a player and as a coach. He’s been amazing with me, so I would like to thank him. And then there’s people like our CEO Denise [Barrett-Baxendale] who has been fantastic.
“It really is a caring club with some proper people in it. They’re massive Evertonians.
“And, of course, there’s the fans. They’ve been incredible to me since I came in ’94. We’ve got a strong bond.
“The relationship we’ve had over the years has been special. They know how much they mean to me. I’ll always love them.”
A formidable striker, Ferguson came to Everton from Rangers in 1994 and rapidly gained hero-status, powering in his first goal in a Merseyside derby victory at Goodison Park.
Ferguson scored 73 goals in 273 Everton appearances that spanned 10 years, across two spells.
He won the FA Cup with the Club in 1995, twice delivered match-winning strikes against Manchester United and netted four times in meetings with Liverpool.
Ferguson added: “It was difficult last season but this club is definitely heading in the right direction. It’s a fantastic club.
“The team is in good hands with Frank as manager. He’s been first class and he wanted me to stay on.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Frank. He’s a great man and a great young manager, I’m sure he’ll do very well for Everton.
“There’s also the new stadium on the horizon which is going to be unbelievable for the Club.
“I’ll be there as a supporter. My kids have got Season Tickets and I’ll be looking forward to coming back.”
Everton FC
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Post by Everton News. on Jul 4, 2022 17:24:33 GMT
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Post by Avinalaff on Jul 4, 2022 17:57:26 GMT
The club are winding me right up at the minute.
Not so much Ferguson going, as he's a big boy and can look after himself, but it just seems like a continual conveyor belt of unpleasant reading.
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Post by rugbytoffee on Jul 4, 2022 19:14:45 GMT
Everton Chairman Bill Kenwright has paid tribute to Duncan Ferguson after the Blues Giant's decision to leave the Club to fulfil his managerial ambition... Duncan has been the one great constant at our beloved football club ever since he first strode into Bellefield three decades ago. He has been a player, a talisman, a coach and an inspirational manager – but most of all he has been a 24 carat true blue legend. When he was a young firebrand he helped us win the FA Cup, secure a fourth-place finish – and proved an especially spiky thorn in the sides of our north west rivals Liverpool and Manchester United. He came home from Newcastle as my first signing with Walter in 2000 – and typically scored twice on his Goodison return. He scored on his farewell appearance, too, then proved a progressive coach and an inspiring caretaker boss. But most of all he has proved one of Everton’s greatest ever servants. The supporters adore him because he is one of them – he is an Evertonian, as his famous tattoo proclaims. And while he will embrace whatever challenges he embarks upon next with his trademark passion and bravery, he will remain an Evertonian at heart. His performances as a player are etched forever in my mind, those towering Goodison headers against Liverpool and United, the crashing shots at Anfield and Old Trafford, his occasional brushes with officialdom! And his inspirational enthusiasm as a caretaker manager when we were at a low ebb in our fortunes reminded us of what it is to be an Evertonian. Football has never just been a game to Duncan, it’s always been Everton. We will always remain friends – but I wish him the very best in whatever awaits him next, unless it’s against our beloved Blues! Come back and see us whenever you want, big fella…Everton will always welcome you. Good Luck, God bless, Dunc…from all of us. www.evertonfc.com/new
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