Darren Ferguson

Ferguson was born in Glasgow. He is the son of former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. He has two siblings: a twin brother, Jason, and an elder brother, Mark. His father brought him through the youth ranks at Manchester United, giving him his first team debut in 1990. Ferguson played in United's first 15 games of the new Premier League in 1992–93 during the absence of the injured Bryan Robson, and although he did not start a league game after November, he played enough games to qualify for a title winner's medal at the end of the season (which, at the time, was a minimum of 10 matches). However, his first-team chances were very limited in 1993–94 and he was transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers for £250,000. His final season at Old Trafford brought just five first team appearances, and with the introduction of squad numbers in the Premier League that campaign he had been issued with the number 18 shirt which would next be worn by Simon Davies. He spent five years at Wolves, during which they qualified for the Division One play-offs twice and finished in the top 10 on four occasions, but never gained promotion to the Premier League. He left Wolves in 1999 to sign for Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam, but only made 14 appearances. Between 1999 and 2007 he played for Wrexham making 310 appearances, scoring 51 goals. Ferguson captained them to win promotion to Division Two in 2002–03. He also led the club to its first national trophy (in English football), the Football…

In 2001, 29-year-old Ferguson was linked with the management post at Wrexham, following the departure of Brian Flynn. At the time, he assisted caretaker manager Joey Jones. After manager Denis Smith was sacked in January 2007, Ferguson was again touted as a candidate, having by now played well over 300 games for the club, but coach Brian Carey was appointed instead. There were suggestions that Ferguson and Carey had clashed, as Ferguson had expected to be appointed. Carey, who had left Ferguson on the substitutes bench for his first game, denied this. The pair had argued a year previously, following a defeat to Leyton Orient. Ferguson later stated he was disappointed not to be considered for the management position, and stated the club would have done better under him than they did under Carey.

Peterborough United

Shortly after his father celebrated 20 years as manager of Manchester United, Ferguson followed him into football management. In January 2007 he left Wrexham to become player-manager of fellow League Two side Peterborough United. Previous manager Keith Alexander had been sacked after a run of six straight defeats. He led the club to a 10th-placed finish in his first season of management. In his first full season of management, he took Posh to second place in League Two, gaining promotion. He was named League Two manager of the month for March 2008, after Peterborough won six games out of eight in the month. In his second full season, 2008–09, he led Posh…

In June 2003, Ferguson married Nadine Metcalfe. On 23 October 2007, he was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his estranged wife on the driveway of his father's home in Wilmslow, Cheshire. He was released on bail. He appeared at Macclesfield Magistrates' Court on 23 January 2008, and was charged with common assault, to which he pleaded not guilty. On 10 April 2008, he changed his plea to guilty and was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £200 in court costs.

As a player

Manchester United

Premier League: 1992–93 FA Charity Shield: 1993 Wrexham

FAW Premier Cup: 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04; runner-up: 2004–05, 2005–06 Football League Trophy: 2004–05

As a manager

Peterborough United

Football League Trophy / EFL Trophy: 2013–14, 2023–24, 2024–25 Football League One / EFL League One second-place promotion: 2008–09, 2020–21 Football League One play-offs: 2011 Football League Two second-place promotion: 2007–08 Doncaster Rovers

EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2016–17 Individual

LMA Manager of the Year: 2009 League One Football League One / EFL League One Manager of the Month: March 2009, February 2011, April 2014, August 2014, October 2019, October 2020, February 2021 Football League Two / EFL League Two Manager of the Month: March 2008, January 2017 EFL Manager of the Season: 2016–17