Everton: Legendary Hardnut Duncan Ferguson Names Three Toughest Defenders He Played Against

Chris Wright

10th, February 2017

duncan-ferguson-everton

Having attained legendary status at Everton by pummelling his way to the top, Duncan Ferguson has now settled into a more sedate coaching role at the club.

During a chat with The Times about his new, mellower professional persona, Big Dunc (a self-confessed “big softie” these days) was asked to name the three toughest opponents he came up against during his playing days.

While it shouldn’t come as much of a turn-up that two of Ferguson’s picks were of the archetypal ‘big, ugly centre-back’ ilk, his final choice might just raise your eyebrow a sliver.

First up was ex-Liverpool bastion Sami Hyypia:

He was so big and so good in the air for Liverpool. He wasn’t the quickest, but he read the game brilliantly.

Then, perhaps predictably, came Tony Adams:

A tough, hard, old school defender. There was him, Martin Keown, Gary Pallister and Steve Bruce — players who used to get their head in.

And last but by no means least, one Rio Ferdinand:

From those I have named, he was the best in terms of being a “footballer”. He had a bit of everything. He wasn’t a soft touch either.

Of course Ferdinand was an upper echelon centre-back, but he was also a namby pampy ‘continental-style’ ball-player for crying out loud!

We’re just a little surprised that Rio’s languid talents would register with a seasoned elbow-chucker like Ferguson the Barbarian.

Maybe he is going a bit soft in his old age after all!

Posted in Everton, Hardmen

Share this article: Email

Leave a Reply