From confronting an intruder to trying to help
Ferguson was 29 and in his second spell at Everton when two burglars entered the house. His wife, Janine, and their six-month-old daughter were also home.
He told the podcast that a noise caught his attention as he lay on the couch. After putting on his sneakers, he saw two figures entering through the conservatory. Ferguson said previous encounters with similar situations helped him remain calm initially, but he became angry after grabbing one of the men.
"I unloaded, I really did. I really followed in to the point where I thought I'd killed him, I really did. I had to try and resuscitate him then," Ferguson said. "So you go from a point of unloading on the fella to helping him. It happened in a matter of seconds."
The burglars, Michael Pratt and Barry Dawson, had attempted to take champagne, a framed picture and CDs. Both pleaded guilty and received 15-month prison sentences. Dawson's injuries from the confrontation with Ferguson required three days in the hospital.
At sentencing, Judge Anthony Procter distinguished the men from hardened criminals while emphasizing the seriousness of entering an occupied home at night. He also described the impact on Ferguson: "Mr Ferguson may give the impression of being a hard man, but it is clear he was shaken by this incident, primarily for the effects on his wife and young child."
Another break-in two years later
Ferguson listed the house for sale after the 2001 break-in, but faced another attempted burglary in January 2003 at his £2 million home in Formby.
Carl Bishop tried to steal alcohol from an outbuilding and was confronted by Ferguson. Bishop sustained a broken jaw and lost three teeth, spending two days in the hospital. Police later dismissed his allegation that Ferguson had assaulted him.
Bishop was sentenced to four years in prison for trespassing with intent to steal and another 12 months for failing to return to prison while on conditional release.
Playing career and disciplinary record
Ferguson's playing career included an FA Cup victory with Everton in 1995, 68 goals across 269 Premier League appearances and seven appearances for Scotland.
His disciplinary history included a three-month prison sentence in 1995 for headbutting Raith Rovers player John McStay during a match in 1994. He was the first professional footballer jailed for an on-field assault. His eight Premier League red cards also put him level with Patrick Vieira and Richard Dunne for the competition's record.
In May 2025, Ferguson published BIG DUNC: The Upfront Autobiography. The book became a Sunday Times bestseller.
Taking charge at Glentoran
Now 54, Ferguson was appointed Glentoran's first-team manager on a multi-year contract, the Belfast club announced on October 19, 2026. Gary Bollan, his former Dundee United teammate, joined as assistant manager. A home game against Ballymena United was scheduled as Ferguson's first match in charge.
The appointment made him the fifth former Everton player to manage Glentoran, after David Reid, James McIntosh, Alex Young and Tommy Jackson.
Glentoran was third in the Irish Premiership when Ferguson took over, with six wins and four defeats from its opening 12 league matches. The club had not won the league title since 2009.
His two previous permanent management jobs ended after relegations. Forest Green Rovers won just once in his 18 matches in charge and dropped out of League One in 2023. He later oversaw relegation at Inverness Caledonian Thistle and was fired in October 2024 after the club entered administration.
