Football may not be as physical as rugby.

But it has rightly shown the need for a relative amount of aggressiveness and grit.

While some footballers have demonstrated some dissatisfaction with this “necessity,” other players have taken the “need” to alien heights, earning a name for themselves as being a rugged fellow who isn’t shy of brawling or giving out the stick to opposing players.

Pepe, Jaap Stam, and possibly Sergio Ramos could come to mind for being hot-headed or short-tempered.

But none of them come close to former Evertonian Duncan Ferguson.

During Ferguson’s sports career, his hardman tendencies extended beyond the game’s 90 minutes to showing off cult-like heroics off the pitch.

The height of Duncan Ferguson’s career had to be a record of being the first British footballer to spend a jail term over an on-field action.

But there are many more astonishing public actions that got Ferguson – and possibly someone else – in deep trouble throughout his football career.

The Beginning

Ferguson’s stories of total dissent and carnage began right from his childhood.

“I can’t keep him out of trouble,” said a former Dundee United gaffer where he started his professional footballing career.

He once caused some stir after headbutting a police officer while being under the influence of alcohol.

Only three years later, Duncan manhandled a postman who was a fan of rival club St. Johnstone, evoking a statement of despair from his gaffer.

Eventually, Ferguson wore out his first professional club enough to gain a transfer to Rangers.

However, the Scottish disciplinary issues were only beginning.

However, despite his unsettling actions, Duncan Ferguson’s abilities could never be disputed.

The 6ft 4 in striker was ferocious in front of goal and had a remarkably prolific career (124 goals in 424 club appearances).

His incredible height helped him produce stellar headers, while his passion for his team was something no one could deny.

Rangers, Everton, and a Harvest of Straight Reds

Dunc’s 1993 move to Rangers caught widespread media attention for breaking the existing British transfer record.

However, the massive signing didn’t happen as planned, as the Scot would soon leave the club on a loan deal the following year.

Only a few games into his career at Rangers, trouble struck after Ferguson assaulted two blokes at a nightclub and notoriously head-butted Raith Rovers’ Jock McStay during a match.

The headbutt earned him assault charges and some time at Glasgow prison HMP Barlinnie.

Rangers felt compelled to loan him out to Everton with such penalties to his name.

Dunc failed to score in his first four games with the Toffees – and worsened things when he added an unsettling tantrum only two days before a Merseyside derby to his goal drought.

He had been out partying and got pulled over by the police, who ensured he spent the night behind bars.

Intriguingly, Duncan performed excellently on the pitch during the derby despite the disturbing preceding events.

Some other infamous incidents linked to the Scottish include him beating up petty burglars on two different occasions and handing out to them a fair price to pay for their thievery.

One of them ended up in the hospital.

Per the stats, Duncan’s hot temper earned his career a record eight straight red cards in the English Premier League.

Remarkably, Duncan Ferguson’s Everton stint was a significant success as he soon emerged as the hero of many loyal Evertonians, who often acknowledged his input in Merseyside derbies and relegation battles.

He spent two tenures with Everton (1994-98 and 2000-06).

In 2004, he elbowed Charlton’s Hermann Hreidarsson in the face.

Before the year ended, Ferguson bagged a four-match ban for throttling Leicester’s Steffen Freund.

Two years later, the EPL banned Ferguson for shoving Wigan’s Pascal Chimbonda in the face just before he was sent off for hitting Paul Scharner.

Besides another Scottish club, Ferguson had a relatively small professional stint at Newcastle, where he scored eight goals in 30 appearances.

However, the Scott is easily remembered for being an Everton legend after spending a total of ten years with the team.

Duncan Ferguson Today: Regrets, Lessons, and Coaching

The famous old saying, “with age comes wisdom,” attributed to Oscar Wilde plays out in the old warhorse’s experience.

Generally, he’s mellowed in middle age and has taken up coaching as a profession.

After retiring, he returned to volunteer with the club’s academy at Finch Farm under David Moyes before serving as interim manager of the men’s senior team afterwards.

However, Ferguson regrets most of his infamous actions.

He referred to many of his red cards as “stupid” while speaking to BBC Sounds in a podcast.

‘‘A lot of stupid red cards I got in my career,’’ he admits. ‘‘It takes you a night to gain a reputation and a lifetime to get rid of it. I had one or two problems off the field when I was 18. Maybe I could have controlled myself a little bit better.’’

Perhaps his biggest regret had to be begrudging the Scottish Football Association (SFA) over disciplinary measures handed to him over the infamous headbutt incident.

“When I came out of prison, the SFA asked me to serve another 12-game ban.”

Ferguson quit the national team after the incident, missing out on the 1998 World Cup in France.

He deemed the additional ban unfair and chose the legal route of charging the FA to court instead.

“I had to then go to the courts, to fight my case and say ‘look, this is like double jeopardy, or whatever it’s called.

I actually won my case… but the SFA wanted me to serve  ban, so I got the hump.

It’s the biggest regret in my career, not playing for my country.’’

Dunc, now 53, likely has tons of lessons for the younger generation and seems to push a rather more lenient and friendly poise towards others.

‘‘I loved it since I started doing it,’’ he told BBC Sounds. ‘‘I came through the Everton academy. I’ve done the hard yards. I love being with the kids, I always did. I’ve got fun in me and I’m a positive guy- that’s the way I take my coaching.’’

Betting Insights for Duncan Ferguson Fans

Duncan Ferguson played with so much passion, and he was rewarded for it.

If you followed the career of this Everton legend and have passions similar to his, one of the best ways to make money from your love for the game is through sports betting.

However, when it comes to betting, apart from choosing the right bookmaker, another thing you must have control over is your mode of payment.

These days, sportsbooks have many means to many betting deposits, and you must choose the best one that fits your person.

By all indications, payment by bank card, cryptocurrencies, and e-wallets are the best payment options now, and we advise that you play only with a bookmaker that offers these transaction options.

Conclusion

Duncan Cowan Ferguson was a real character as a footballer, and his career was always involved in controversies.

Regarding Duncan Ferguson’s salary, it’s hard to put a figure to it as the numbers tend to change from time to time.

However, we can confirm Big Duncs is not just about money as displayed during his coaching stint at Inverness Caledonian Thistle (2023/24) where took a self-imposed pay cut to help Caley Thistle out of financial crisis.

He has also managed Scottish side Forest Green Rovers (2023) and had a temporary stint at Everton as head coach.

Beyond learning from the downsides of his ‘hardman’ abilities, Ferguson would wish his son Cameron, who’s also a professional footballer and Scot international, would be calmer and more gentlemanly on and off the pitch.