AliousBarry Ferguson may have only been in charge of Rangers for four games, but the intensity of his tenure makes it feel like much more. Now, he faces the toughest challenge yet—a trip to Celtic Park on Sunday.
Despite the short time in the job, the former Rangers captain admits he’s learned a lot about himself.
“I’m surprised I haven’t lost my temper more,” he joked. “Maybe it’s maturity—I’m 47 now, so at some point, you have to grow up.”
He made these remarks on Wednesday, just before Rangers’ dramatic night against Fenerbahce. Despite suffering a record-breaking fourth consecutive home defeat, the team’s penalty shootout victory sparked wild celebrations, underscoring the unpredictability of their current run. Ferguson insists he’s more composed than in his playing days, though his team’s rollercoaster performances continue to test his patience.
“As a player, I was fiery and aggressive—that was just passion,” he said. “Sometimes I let it get the better of me. I’ll still lose my head occasionally, but I’ve found ways to calm down. Plus, my staff help keep me in check. They just give me a little tap on the shoulder and tell me to relax.”
With European success behind them, Ferguson now turns his attention to his biggest domestic test. Since taking over from Philippe Clement, he’s seen changes in his perception of some Rangers players—most notably Cyriel Dessers.
“I’ve always said you can never question Cyriel’s work ethic,” Ferguson admitted. “He’s a hard worker, but his positional sense can improve. We’ve discussed it, and he’s open to learning. That’s the key—whether you’re 18 or 31, you should never stop improving.”
Before stepping into management, Ferguson had his own ideas about what was wrong with Rangers. “Watching from the outside, I felt the team was a bit slow at times,” he said. “Maybe that’s a European style, but at Rangers, you need to play with high intensity. Sometimes, I wasn’t sure what the game plan was.”
Now, he finds himself in the thick of it, preparing to face a vastly more experienced manager in Brendan Rodgers. Just weeks ago, Ferguson had a completely different outlook on life.
“If I wasn’t here, I’d be lying by a pool with a cocktail,” he laughed. “I had to cancel my holiday. Instead, I’m on the touchline, ranting and raving—but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
The initial adjustment was grueling, with Ferguson running on just three or four hours of sleep a night. “It’s long hours, but for me, football is 24/7,” he said.
His brief tenure has already seen dramatic swings. A comeback win after being 2-0 down against Kilmarnock, a crushing home defeat to Motherwell, a heroic performance in Istanbul, and the chaotic Fenerbahce triumph. The Motherwell loss, in particular, still stings.
“It hurt me badly,” he admitted. “I told the players, ‘It better hurt you just as much.’ It was a terrible result, and I suffered all weekend. I couldn’t get it out of my head. Losing can’t just be brushed off—it’s not ‘just a game of football.’”
One piece of advice from Rangers legend Walter Smith has stuck with him: *Meet everything head-on.* It’s a philosophy Ferguson has fully embraced since stepping into the role.
“I knew there’d be negativity around my appointment, and I don’t mind that. I’ve dealt with it my whole life,” he said. “Until people really know me, they don’t understand how much football means to me. I’ve done my coaching badges, I understand the game, and I love it. When your boyhood club offers you this opportunity, you’d have to be crazy to say no.”
Now, Ferguson’s focus is solely on the next challenge—the Old Firm showdown. He’s taking things one day at a time, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
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