Barry Ferguson is a diehard Rangers fan and represented the club with passion, vigour and relentless will to win over two Ibrox spells.
The former skipper was thrust into the Rangers first-team squad in 1997 under the tutelage of Walter Smith and went on to become one of the most successful captains in the club’s history.
Ferguson is up there with the most decorated Rangers players of all-time and will be remembered as a captain who dedicated his life to the club he loves.
Here is absolutely everything you need to know about former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson as we answer all of your frequently asked questions.
Barry Ferguson age
Barry Ferguson was born on February 2, 1978 in the town of Hamilton in Scotland. Hamilton is situated 13 miles southeast of Glasgow city centre. As of March 2024, Ferguson is 46 years old.
Barry Ferguson net worth
It is currently not known what Barry Ferguson’s net worth is. It was reported in 2001 that Ferguson was earning £27,500 per week at Rangers.
However, Ferguson was declared bankrupt in 2017 after accruing debts of over £1.4 million. It was said at the time that he had just £3,000 worth of assets to pay off his creditors.
His bankruptcy was then discharged in August 2018 but he reportedly still owed his creditors over £1 million.
What age did Barry Ferguson become Rangers captain?
In October 2000, Lorenzo Amoruso was stripped of the Rangers captaincy. Manager Dick Advocaat made the decision and handed the armband permanently to young midfielder Barry Ferguson.
Ferguson was 22 at the time and thus became the Ibrox club’s youngest-ever captain. Advocaat explained that he was confident Ferguson could shoulder the “responsibility” of the role.
Bazza would go on to captain Rangers for almost three years before transferring to Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.
But the midfielder returned to Rangers in 2005 and resumed his role as captain until 2007 when Paul Le Guen bombed him out of the first-team squad.
His captaincy would be reinstated just a couple of weeks later and he would hold the role again until 2009 when Walter Smith took the armband off Ferguson.
When did Barry Ferguson leave Rangers?
Ferguson left Rangers on two occasions as a player. In August 2003, Blackburn Rovers signed the central midfielder from Rangers for a fee of approximately £7.5 million.
With that, Ferguson remains one of the most expensive transfer sales in Rangers history. He then left Rangers again in July 2009 after returning to the club four years previously.
This time, Fergie signed for Birmingham City as he reunited with former Light Blues boss Alex McLeish.
Why did Barry Ferguson leave Rangers?
After captaining Rangers to a domestic Treble in the 2002/03 season, Ferguson was the subject of a £7.5m bid from Blackburn Rovers in the summer.
He would go on to leave Rangers for the first time and explained 18 years later on The Go Radio Football Show that it was simply down to the Ibrox giants “needing the money” for him.
Ferguson admitted it “broke his heart to leave” Rangers but ultimately, the matter was out of his hands.
In July 2009, Ferguson would leave Rangers for a second time. This was largely down to a multitude of factors that played out during the 2008/09 campaign.
Ferguson was fined, stripped of his Rangers captaincy and dropped by legendary manager Walter Smith after a disciplinary issue whilst on international duty with Scotland.
Ferguson and Rangers teammate Allan McGregor went out on an all-night drinking session after Scotland had lost 3-0 to The Netherlands. Days later, they were pictured on the Hampden bench during the following game against Iceland making a two-fingered V-sign across his mouth [The Guardian].
He was then informed by the SFA that he would never play for Scotland again and the furore ultimately played a part in his Rangers exit to Birmingham.
Barry Ferguson Rangers stats
Barry Ferguson played for Rangers between 1997-2003 before returning for a second spell from 2005-2009.
As per Fitbastats and Transfermarkt, here are the midfielder’s Rangers stats including appearances, goals and assists.
- Appearances: 428
- Starts: 417
- Goals: 61
- Assists: 29
- Penalties: 11
- Yellow cards: 69
- Red cards: 5
- Major trophies: Scottish Premier League (x5), Scottish Cup (x5), Scottish League Cup (x5)
Teams coached by Barry Ferguson
Barry Ferguson went on to become a manager after retiring from professional football in 2015. He took caretaker charge of Blackpool before managing Clyde, Kelty Hearts and Alloa Athletic.
- Blackpool (caretaker) – 20 games, 3 wins, 5 draws, 12 defeats (2014)
- Clyde – 120 games, 46 wins, 23 draws, 51 defeats (2014-2017)
- Kelty Hearts – 70 games, 46 wins, 12 draws, 12 defeats (2018-2021)
- Alloa Athletic – 33 games, 9 wins, 8 draws, 16 defeats (2021-2022)
Barry Ferguson podcast
Ferguson is a regular panellist on The Go Radio Football Show which is broadcast on Go Radio at 5pm every weekday.
Barry Ferguson’s family
Barry Ferguson’s nephew Lewis
Barry Ferguson’s nephew is Bologna and Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson. Lewis began his professional career with Hamilton Academical after representing Rangers’ youth set-up.
He played with Accies for the 2017/18 campaign then earned a switch to Aberdeen. Four years later, Italian side Bologna would sign Lewis for an undisclosed fee.
Is Barry Ferguson related to Derek Ferguson?
Yes, Barry and Derek Ferguson are brothers. Derek was born in July 31, 1967 and is eleven years older than Barry.
Derek played for Rangers between 1983 and 1990. Seven years after Derek left the club for Hearts, Barry would make his first-team debut for the Light Blues.
Barry Ferguson’s wife and sons
Barry Ferguson is married to Margaret Kane after tying the knot in 2001. She is a professional psychologist.
Barry and Margaret have three children named Connor, Kyle and Cara together.
