Big Dunc important part of coaching staff

A former player and currently a member of Ronald Koeman’s management team, Duncan Ferguson has a big role to play in Everton’s future says Erwin Koeman.

When new manager Ronald Koeman came in at the beginning of the current season, he retained the services of Ferguson. Assistant manager Erwin, brother of Ronald, says that Ronald always wanted Ferguson to be part of the staff.

“Most managers in England bring their own entourage, a big group of people who take over and ignore the loyal workers in the club.

“I think this is what happened before with Duncan Ferguson. He was never involved, he was not valued.

“Ronald wanted him to be part of our team, of our staff, and wants him to be involved.

“The man is a club legend. Those kind of guys you don’t leave aside.

“You have to use their experience and knowledge. They can help us get better and better.”

Ferguson first joined Everton in the autumn of 1994 on loan from Rangers in Scotland. He managed 2 goals in 14 appearances during that spell, and was signed on the following season by new manager Joe Royle, another former Toffee player.

He quickly became a club legend, with stories of his off-the-field partying rife and he went on to seal that hero status among the fans by playing a key role as the Blues won their last piece of silverware, the 1995 FA Cup.

The Scotsman’s aggressive nature and take-no-prisoners style on the pitch was widely lauded and many an epic tale has been told of how he put an opponent in his place during games.

Players who crossed him barely lived to tell the tale.

After 44 goals in 116 appearances, he transferred to Newcastle in 1998, before coming back to Goodison Park two years later for a further six years, scoring another 30 goals in 123 games.

Ferguson came back to the club in 2005 in a coaching capacity, working voluntarily for another former player Alan Irvine with the Everton Academy students. He has his UEFA B- and A-licences, and is currently working towards his Pro-Licence. Former manager Roberto Martinez promoted Big Dunc to the first team coaching staff in 2014.

Despite a couple of disappointing results, Erwin is encouraged by what he has seen so far from the club.

“We had a fantastic start and we want to make the fans proud.

“Ronald and I have both been manager of Feyenoord, a massive working men’s club in a big port.

“This is why Everton reminds us in every way about our old club.

“We both love a traditional club where the fans are hard working people, who are craving for success.

“It is not complicated what Ronald is doing.

“He talks to everyone in the club, he takes people really seriously and values their opinion.

“He wants everyone at Everton to support him and come forward if they have good things, which can help us all. Whether it is the scouting department or the medical staff. I think they appreciate that here.”