Everton are in search of a new manager after Carlo Ancelotti left abruptly, joining Real Madrid. The fans were left baffled, angry and confused as to what lies next. Everton simply cannot achieve the much needed stability as managers have left or have been fired before even completing 18 months in charge.
Everton director of football Marcel Brands has been overwhelmed with as many as 40 enquiries regarding the vacant position at the club but the board won’t make any panic or hasty decisions. The names like Nuno Espirito Santo, Roberto Martinez, Ralf Rangnick, Sergio Conceicao, Maurizio Sarri and many others have already been linked.
Amidst a horde of names, a very familiar face for the Everton supporters is also in the running for the managerial position is Duncan Ferguson. The Royal Blue legend has been in the first team coaching staff since 2014. He’s certainly loved by the fans but does he have enough in him to become the manager of his beloved club? Reportedly, he wants to be considered as one of the candidates as Everton study the options on the table.
What can he bring to the club he loves?
Here’s a look at three things he would bring if Duncan Ferguson is named Everton manager:
Duncan Ferguson is one of the most passionate guys out there ar Everton
Passion
There is an image burnt deeply into anybody who loves Everton. It’s Duncan Ferguson running down the touchline and hugging ball boys after Everton scored the second and third time against Chelsea in a 3-1 victory.
He first ran towards the Street End to hug a ball boy after Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first goal of the match. With score 2-1 and Chelsea looking like they would get back into the match, Calvert-Lewin struck again after some battling work by Tom Davies in the Chelsea box. The Scot sought out another ball boy and again, lifted him up in an embrace. Both ball boys were grinning ear-to-ear.
That was passion distilled into less than 30 seconds of memory. But, what passion!
After some miserable outings under then-manager Marco Silva, including a lacklustre, embarrassing 5-2 loss in the Merseyside Derby. That sealed Silva’s fate and Ferguson was tabbed as the caretaker. After the Chelsea win, the next three matches were drawn.
Ferguson’s passion was infectious and it seemed to inhabit every player as they ran non-stop and harried Chelsea, got in front of shots and Richarlison’s first goal, a powerful header from a Djibril Sidibe cross had the look of a trademark Ferguson goal. Everton played with a fire that had been sadly absent.
After the match, Andy Hunter quoted Ferguson in The Observer:
"It is just emotion, just such adrenaline. When you see the kids’ faces, I think one of them was in tears and I was in tears to be honest. It was one game and no one can ever take it away from me, can they? But the players were unbelievable and it is their day."
In the same article, Hunter wrote Ferguson had turned Goodison Park into a frenzied bearpit. Hunter’s line also illustrates something else Ferguson has.
Being an Everton legend, Duncan Ferguson one of the most respected and loved among the fans
Relationship with fans
He loves the Everton fans and they love him back with a powerful devotion. The big man wasn’t born on Merseyside, but there is no doubt he is an adopted favourite son of the Blueside of the city.
He has an intensely personal relationship with them. In the Chelsea match, he always looked towards the crowd and Goodison responded as it rocked harder than it had for some time.
The effect the Goodison supporters can have is best illustrated by an often-repeated Howard Kendall quote – Get the ball into the box, the Gwladys Street will suck the ball into the net
There’s more personal touch to Ferguson’s relationship with the fans, he has a fearsome reputation from his conduct on the field and he used that to prompt an Everton supporter to study harder.
Ferguson warned the pupil after hearing from his photography teacher, as per the Daily Record,
"“Are you alright son? It’s Duncan Ferguson here from Everton Football Club. “I just wanted to wish you all the best pal… your teacher, auld Tom, has told me you’ve been f*****g slacking off a wee bit in your photography, is that right? “We cannae be having that mate. You better get yer finger oot, alright?"
Ferguson added that if the student got the results, he would come and visit him and they could have lunch together.
Can you imagine anybody ignoring that message?
And if anything more was needed, it was the sight of Ferguson tears in his eyes, hugging each player after the 2-0 victory against Liverpool at Anfield. There were no supporters in the ground, but it’s likely tears of joy were flowing in Everton households.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin dons the historic No.9 Everton jersey once donned by Ferguson
Bring the best out of Dominic Calvert-Lewin
As a coach and assistant manager has worked with players. With Calvert-Lewin being the prime example. The England international who is a member of the upcoming Euros squad is quick to praise Ferguson’s influence.
After the Chelsea victory, he told the club’s official website
"[Personally] it was about repaying the work Duncan has done with me over the past three years. I have worked closely with Duncan, we have a good relationship and that’s why I ran to him when I scored my second goal."
Ferguson’s influence has helped Calvert-Lewin become a feared header of the ball and given his natural leaping ability it makes a threat in the air. Calver-Lewin created a fuss when he chose to wear the number 9, a legendary number in Everton’s history. But, with Ferguson’s help Calvert-Lewin wears it well.
A good percentage of Blues would welcome Ferguson, despite his lack of the intangibles others might bring. He isn’t a big name and that might limit Everton’s ability in the transfer market.
But Ferguson is a Blue through and through, the fact that Howard Kendall’s widow, Lily, gave him her husband’s old watch to wear before the Chelsea match shows that.
However, is that enough?
Can Duncan Ferguson become the next Toffee manager?