Duncan Ferguson appointed manager of Glentoran
Former Everton and Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson has been named the new head coach of Irish Premiership side Glentoran, the club announced on 19 October 2026. The 54‑year‑old, who also represented Dundee United, Newcastle United and earned seven caps for Scotland, will sign a multi‑year deal with the east Belfast outfit.
Ferguson’s coaching résumé includes spells as assistant manager at Everton under Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benítez, as well as two periods as caretaker boss. More recently he has held the managerial reins at Forest Green Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He steps in after Declan Devine’s departure in September. Former Dundee United teammate Gary Bollan, with whom Ferguson worked at Inverness, has been appointed as his assistant.
Glentoran have not captured a league title since 2009, despite significant investment from owner Ali Pour and the shift to a full‑time professional model in recent seasons. “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 that talks with owner Ali Pour and sporting director Paul Millar convinced him to accept the role. “The more I spoke with Ali and Paul, 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’s first match in charge will be a home fixture against Ballymena United on Saturday at 15:00 BST.
Speaking about his long‑term commitment, Ferguson said, “I have signed for the long term. I want to get to know the people at the club and in the wider community and become part of life here. I have heard so much about the Glentoran supporters and what this club means to them. We have a responsibility to win games and make them proud. Their support has to be earned, and I am looking forward to getting started.”
Owner Ali Pour explained that the appointment reflects Glentoran’s ambition to win trophies. “We took the time this decision deserved. We conducted a rigorous recruitment process, interviewing candidates from across the United Kingdom, Ireland and Scandinavia,” he said. “We carefully assessed their experience and proposals and completed our due diligence before making our appointment. Paul and I met Duncan on several occasions in Liverpool. Those conversations allowed us 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 impressed us. He 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 made 597 appearances for the club, welcomed the news. “I still can’t believe it – it’s a huge appointment and I’m interested to see his plans for Glentoran,” Leeman told BBC Radio Ulster. “It is a risk and he’s been known more as a number two, but he has bags of experience at the top level and there’s certainly something he can add to the team. He doesn’t know the league, so he will need 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 will be interesting.”
The club had previously been linked with former Northern Ireland international Jim Magilton, but the ex‑Ipswich Town and QPR manager chose to remain with rivals Cliftonville. Declan Devine left by mutual consent after two and a half years, having guided Glentoran to a County Antrim Shield triumph in the 2024‑25 season – the club’s first trophy since the Irish Cup win in 2020.
Ferguson now faces the task of ending a 17‑year league title drought. Glentoran sit third in the Irish Premiership, having recorded six wins and four defeats in their first twelve league games of the season.