Everton legend Duncan Ferguson has shed fresh light on his hard-man reputation whilst alluding to an infamous incident

Few would have messed with Everton icon Duncan Ferguson in his prime. But the former Toffees hard man jokes that his gruff demeanour is not carried off the pitch - unless you attempt to burgle his home.

Having started his career at Dundee United, the aptly nicknamed Big Dunc enjoyed a terrific spell in the Premier League with Everton after arriving from Rangers. As a Blue, he lifted the FA Cup in 1995 and scored 72 goals in 273 appearances in all competitions.

Ferguson ended his career at Goodison Park in 2006, having spent two years as a Newcastle United player from 1998 to 2000, and managed the Toffees on a caretaker basis twice in 2019 and 2022. His managerial career has now taken him to Glentoran, following his tenure at Forest Green Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

The 54-year-old is arguably best known for being a bruiser, as burglars found out in two separate incidents in 2001 and 2003. The Scot is tied for the most red cards in Premier League history with eight, after all. But despite this, Ferguson claims he is not as hot-headed off the field as many might assume.

Speaking to The Telegraph about his reputation, Ferguson said: "I can't get away from that. That was just how I played football. But I'm not like that off the pitch, unless you are breaking into my house!

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"Other than that, I've been all right! I have been in Liverpool since I was 22 and if you are a wrong' un, you'll get found out."

Ferguson could be referring to either of two instances in which people broke into his house and he was forced to take action. In January 2001, two individuals, Michael Pratt and Barry Dawson, broke into Ferguson's Rufford residence in the early hours of the morning whilst his family was sleeping.

Recalling the evening on the BBC podcast, Tony Bellew Is Angry, he claimed: "I'm lying on the couch. I heard something. I put my trainers on. I had no top on, I was ripped back then and I could see two shadows coming through the conservatory. I was quite calm.

"I got a grip of one of them and that was when I got angry… I unloaded. I really did. I really followed in to the point where I thought I'd killed him, I really did. I had to try and resuscitate him then. So you go from a point of unloading on the fella to helping him. It happened in a matter of seconds."

Pratt and Dawson pleaded guilty and were jailed for 15 months. Dawson spent three days in hospital after suffering injuries at the hands of Ferguson. The pair had attempted to steal bottles of champagne, a framed picture and CDs.

Despite putting the house up for sale after the incident, Ferguson faced a second attempted burglary at his £2million Formby home two years later.

Carl Bishop spent two days in hospital after attempting to steal alcohol from Ferguson's outbuilding. Ferguson confronted him, leaving him with a broken jaw and three missing teeth.

The ex-Everton star sustained a knee injury in the scuffle. Bishop was sentenced to four years in prison for trespassing with intent to steal, plus 12 months for failing to return to prison while on licence.