Duncan Ferguson Speaks Out on ‘Hardest Player’ Reputation

Duncan Ferguson has responded with an honest admission after being labelled the hardest player to play in the Premier League.

Following on from spells with Dundee United and Rangers in his native Scotland, Ferguson played 269 times in the Premier League for Everton and Newcastle, scoring 68 goals.

But the Scot was renowned for being one of football's leading hardmen, having become the first British footballer to serve a prison sentence for an on-pitch incident back in 1994.

Household names like Roy Keane and Alan Shearer have told tales of what Ferguson was like on the pitch, with his innate level of aggression and intensity striking fear into many of his opponents.

But while he holds the record for the most red cards in Premier League history, Ferguson rejects the notion about being tougher than the rest of the pack.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football alongside Jamie Carragher, Ferguson explained that many of his former Everton teammates were tougher than him.

And he even pinpointed Liverpool legend Carragher, who he battled with in fierce Merseyside derby clashes.

"People that don't know me think I'm the hardest man that ever walked this planet," he stated.

"Some of the rubbish that gets written about you, 'the toughest guy that ever played in the Premier League.

"I wasn't even the toughest guy in my dressing room, so I could never have been the toughest guy that played in the Premier League.

"I'm not even the toughest guy on his sofa, by the way."

He added: "It's just a lot of rubbish isn't it? People just get a story and stick with it. Yeah I was aggressive on a football pitch, that was part of my make-up really, and I got a few red cards along the way, including some stupid ones. But it's not me off the field and it's not me on the training field. It's not me if anybody knows me."

Ferguson, who had brief managerial stints at Forest Green Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, ended up apologising to presenter Dave Jones during his guest appearance.

During an analysis segment on new West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who Ferguson studied for his UEFA B licence with - Ferguson moved Jones around the studio in his demonstration.

Seeing the funny side, he said: "That's a lifetime ambition, being thrown around by Duncan Ferguson!"

Ferguson responded, commenting: "Sorry about that - I wasn't going anywhere near Jamie because he'd fight me back!".