There are some Rangers players you remember for a goal, a tackle, a trophy lift. Barry Ferguson’s one of the few you remember for something harder to pin down: control. Not in a slow, sideways way either. He put his stamp on games, dictated the rhythm, and made the midfield feel like Rangers territory from first whistle to last.

That’s why the word that always comes up with Barry is “tempo”. When he was right, you could see it. He’d take the ball in areas where others would panic, protect it, and somehow wriggle into a yard of space that didn’t look like it existed. Head up. Chest out. Demanding it, taking responsibility, and setting the standards for everyone around him.

A proper No.6, before we even used the term

People will argue about positions and modern labels, but Barry was an outstanding No.6 in the Rangers sense of it. He wasn’t hiding behind the play. He was the platform. He’d show for the ball, take it under pressure, and get Rangers moving again. It was rarely flashy for the sake of it, but it was clever. Smart angles, quick decisions, and that knack for keeping the ball when the game got tight.

That ability to “find space in tight spaces” is a real gift. It’s the difference between a midfielder who simply passes and one who actually dominates. Barry did the latter. He made the centre of the pitch feel like it had a bit more oxygen when he was on it.

That Bayern night at Ibrox

Supporters hold onto certain nights because they tell you what a player really is, not just what we think he is. The memory of a relatively young Barry Ferguson against Bayern Munich at Ibrox, up against Stefan Effenberg, is one of those. The story goes that he played Effenberg off the park, and at the end of the match Effenberg went over to him and told him how highly he rated him.

Whether you’re talking about the technical side or the mentality, that’s the type of moment that sticks. When a top-level opponent gives you that kind of respect, it’s usually because they’ve felt you all night. They’ve tried to press you, tried to rattle you, and you’ve still been the one setting the tone.

Best Scottish midfielder of his era?

It’s a big claim, but it’s one many Rangers fans will nod along with: Barry Ferguson is, for me, the best Scottish midfielder to come out of Scotland over the last quarter of a century. That doesn’t mean there weren’t others worth watching. Derek Ferguson was a very good midfielder in his own right, and Lewis Ferguson has plenty about him as well. But if you’re ranking the three, Barry edges it. By a bit.

Not just because of talent. Because of presence. Because he dominated the middle of the pitch for Rangers in a way that made you feel the game was on our terms.

Written by Sir Walter Smith OBE: 22 December 2025

Tags: squad