Duncan Ferguson appointed Glentoran manager in Irish Premiership

Duncan Ferguson has been appointed manager of Glentoran in the Irish Premiership, the club announced on 19 October 2026, signing what the club described as a "multi-year contract". The 54-year-old former Everton and Rangers striker will take charge of the east Belfast side following Declan Devine's departure in September.

Ferguson played for Dundee United and Newcastle United and won seven caps for Scotland during his playing career. His coaching résumé includes spells as Everton assistant under Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benitez, two periods as caretaker manager, and more recent managerial roles with Forest Green Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Glentoran said the appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process after Devine left by mutual consent; his former Dundee United team-mate Gary Bollan, with whom Ferguson worked at Inverness, has been named assistant manager. The club highlighted owner Ali Pour's investment and the adoption of a full-time professional model in recent years, and noted Glentoran have not won the league since 2009.

Ferguson's experience at Everton also included working under Roberto Martinez and Ronald Koeman, the club added. The club confirmed the former striker has extensive coaching experience and has signed for the long term.

"I am delighted to become manager of Glentoran," Ferguson said. "This is a big club with a tremendous history, and it is a great opportunity for me. I understand the responsibility that comes with the job."

"I want to win trophies here. Glentoran should be challenging for the title and every cup and shield we enter. I know that success here will be judged on what we win," he added. "The more I spoke with Ali and Paul [Millar, sporting director], the more I wanted the job. Their ambition matches my own, and I am looking forward to getting onto the training pitch, working with the players and seeing what we can achieve together." Ferguson also said he has "signed for the long term" and wants to become part of the club and wider community.

Glens owner Ali Pour said the appointment reflected the club's ambition and outlined the recruitment process: "We took the time this decision deserved. We conducted a rigorous recruitment process, interviewing candidates from across the United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavia," added Pour. "We carefully assessed their experience and proposals and completed our due diligence before making the appointment. Paul and I met Duncan on several occasions in Liverpool. Those conversations gave us the opportunity to explore his approach to management, discuss the demands of the role and understand what he could contribute to Glentoran. His football knowledge, experience and determination to take on this opportunity impressed us. Duncan demonstrated the qualities we were looking for in coaching, leadership, player development and recruitment, supported by strong relationships across the game."

Former Glentoran captain Paul Leeman, who played 597 games for the club, reacted with cautious optimism: "I still can't believe it - it's a huge appointment and I'm interested to see his plans for Glentoran," he told BBC Radio Ulster. "It is a risk and he's been known more as a number two. But he has bags of experience in football. He's worked at the top, top level and there's certainly something he can add to the team. He doesn't know the league so I think he has to have people around him who do. He's coming to the Irish League to probably try to resurrect his own managerial career. He will demand respect from the players straight away and it's certainly going to be interesting." The club had been linked with Jim Magilton, but Magilton remained with Cliftonville.

Ferguson takes over a Glentoran side that won the County Antrim Shield in 2024-25, their first trophy since the Irish Cup in 2020, and has not won a league title since 2009. The club sit fourth in the Irish Premiership standings, having won five and lost four of their first 11 league outings this season.

Ferguson's first match in charge will be at home to Ballymena United on Saturday (15:00 BST).