Martin Ferguson (footballer)

Martin Murphy Ferguson (born 21 December 1942)^[2] is a Scottish former football player, manager and scout and was the current chairman of Airdrieonians but stepped down from the role in June 2023 to be Associated Director. He is the brother of former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. He was Manchester United's chief European scout, and as such he was often sent to monitor players in mainland Europe.

Martin Ferguson

Personal information
Full name	Martin Murphy Ferguson^[1]
Date of birth	(1942-12-21) 21 December 1942 (age 80)
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Position(s)	Inside forward
Team information
Current team	Airdrieonians (Associated Director)
Youth career
	Drumchapel Amateurs
000?–1962	Kirkintilloch Rob Roy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1962–1965	Partick Thistle	13	(2)
1965	Greenock Morton	3	(1)
1965–1966	Barnsley	40	(17)
1966–1967	Doncaster Rovers	3	(0)
1967–1968	Waterford	11	(2)
Total		70	(22)
Managerial career
1967–1968	Waterford
1981–1982	East Stirlingshire
1982–1983	Albion Rovers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Ferguson began his playing career at Kirkintilloch Rob Roy where he was capped for Scotland at Junior level before stepping up to Partick Thistle in 1962.^[3] He went on to Morton then a brief spell in the Football League during the mid-1960s.

He was appointed player-coach at Waterford in July 1967.^[4] He made his Blues debut in Peter Fitzgerald's testimonial in August 1967. His first league goal came in the dying seconds of a home clash with Shamrock Rovers on 19 November which led to Ferguson being chaired off the pitch.^[5] He was let go in February 1968.^[6]

He later worked as a coach at Hibernian, but was sacked in 1997.^[7] He was signed by Manchester United on the recommendation of his brother Alex, and scouted players such as future signings Diego Forlán,^[7] Anderson,^[8] and Ruud van Nistelrooy,^[9] as well as others who did not join the club including Fabio Quagliarella^[10] and Alessandro Nesta.^[11] Ferguson retired from his position as chief scout for Manchester United in May 2013, the same time as his brother retired as manager.^[12]

In January 2018, Ferguson was announced as vice-chairman of Airdrieonians^[13] In December of the same year, he became the North Lanarkshire club's chairman.^[14]

Honours

Waterford

• League of Ireland: 1967–68
• Top Four Cup: 1967–68

References

1. "Martin Murphy Ferguson Record vs Heart of Midlothian". London Hearts Supporters Club. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
2. "Martin Ferguson". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
3. Manson, George (31 March 1962). "Dream Comes True". Evening Times. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
4. "Waterford's New Player-Coach". The Irish Times. 28 July 1967. p. 4.
5. "Ferguson heads winner on stroke of time". The Irish Times. 20 November 1967. p. 4.
6. "Waterford let go of manager". The Irish Times. 2 February 1968. p. 3.
7. Greenslade, Nick (2 July 2006). "Troublesome brothers". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
8. . TribalFootball.com. 15 May 2007. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
9. McCarra, Kevin (25 November 2002). "Van Nistelrooy helps United capitalise on their reserves". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
10. Brennan, Stuart (15 June 2007). "Barca offer Eidur as Pique bait". Manchester United. Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 August 2007.
11. "Man Utd renew Nesta interest". BBC Sport. 9 March 2002. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
12. "Martin Ferguson confirms he's retiring as Man Utd chief scout | Transfers". Tribal Football.
13. "Club Statement". Airdrieonians F.C. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
14. Matthew Lindsay (9 January 2019). "Martin Ferguson on becoming Airdrieonians chairman – and getting one over his legendary big brother Sir Alex". Evening Times. Retrieved 20 January 2019.

External links

• Martin Ferguson at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database