Scotland star gets candid over pain of Rangers release that sparked 'one of the worst feelings in the world
The Scotland star was on the books at Rangers as a youngster.
A Scotland star has revealed how his dad formerly of Rangers helped him cope with being released by the Ibrox club.
Lewis Ferguson has been a standout for Scotland in their opening World Cup matches with Haiti and Morocco but has gone the long way to reach a major tournament. He was released by Rangers as a youngster, forging his career at Hamilton, before joining Aberdeen and then Bologna. He has thrived in Serie A and dad Derek, formerly of Rangers, has been there for every step.
An emotional Father’s Day message has been sent as Ferguson Jnr continues his quest to help get Steve Clarke’s side out the group. It was his dad’s support after the crushing blow of a Rangers exit that’s helped him get there.
Lewis Ferguson on Scotland at the World Cup
Ferguson told the BBC on whether he’d spoke to his dad on Father’s Day amid the World Cup: “I have, I texted him obviously this morning, first thing this morning. He's in Miami just now, he'll be having a great time so I'll maybe give him a call this afternoon. But I texted him this morning just to say happy Father's Day and it makes me so happy that I can see him enjoying watching his son play at the World Cup.
“I think at times he lives his dreams through me because he's been in my shoes and I'm not speaking for my dad but I think from what I know that he probably wanted to achieve more than what he did. I think he sort of lives that through me so I feel like when I'm successful it's always really nice to see how proud and how happy he is and like I said he's one of the very few people that I actually listen to in football.
“He's played such an important role in my life and my football career. He's got a lot more complimentary as the years have went on, as I've got older and maybe as he's got older as well, maybe he's changing as well.
What happened after Rangers released Lewis Ferguson?
“But yeah, he's just, he's been the most important role in my football career. I know for a fact if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here. When I was a young kid and I got released from Rangers really young, it was one of the worst feelings in the world, but I think having him there completely changed my outlook on it.
“It was him who changed my mentality and it was him that sort of gave me that feeling that if I go and do the work that I'll become a professional footballer and I can represent my country and I can represent them at a major tournament. I owe him the world in terms of my footballing career and everything that he's done for me in my life. He'll be delighted with that message on Father's Day.”
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