NO-ONE will be prouder when Barry Ferguson manages Rangers for the first time against Kilmarnock tomorrow night than his nearest and dearest.
And that includes his sons Connor and Kyle, two young men who had the privilege of a front row seat at times as Ferguson won five league titles for the Ibrox men as a player.
Kyle has followed his dad’s footsteps into pro football, where he once played alongside his cousin Lewis for the Rangers academy.
Lewis, the son of Barry’s older brother – and another Gers legend – Derek, has since gone on to find fame and fortune with Bologna out in Serie A.
But Kyle is piecing together an interesting career too – after spells studying out in New York state, he’s had spells at Clyde and in Swedish football and now plays as a centre half for National League side Rochdale.
He took to social media last night to say: “Proud. Always has and always will be my hero.”
Older brother Connor, another massive Ibrox fan, said simply: “Unreal” adding a light blue emoji to his post.
Kyle has previously spoken about what a big help his dad has been throughout his career.
He said: “He always says he’s my biggest fan but also my biggest critic which is true because I could play the best game of my life and he’d be like ‘aye you played alright but what about this mistake here’, which is really good because it keeps me grounded as well.
“Obviously he’ll come to games, when I was playing regularly at Altrincham he came down for my debut and two or three games after that.
“All the way through my life he’s been there to give me advice. Maybe sometimes I think I’m right but obviously he’s the one that’s been through it all and played in the Champions League at the age I am just now so I take it on board. But the information he’s given me and the wee tips are invaluable.”
Barry is due to meet the media for the first time in his new role this afternoon.
In an initial Rangers TV interview released last night, he insisted there ARE good players in this team.
“It is my job to get a kick out of this group of players because, when I watched them, I think there are really good players there.
“It was a job I couldn’t turn down.
“To be honest, I thought it would never come.”
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