Duncan Ferguson apologised after a light-hearted moment saw the Everton legend manhandle Sky Sports presenter Dave Jones on Monday Night Football.
Ferguson was a guest on the show to provide analysis of Everton’s latest Premier League clash against West Ham, joining host Jones and Jamie Carragher.
The former Everton, Rangers and Newcastle forward provided insight into newly appointed West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo in an eye-catching segment.
Ferguson explained that he had worked alongside Nuno when the pair had been studying for their coaching badges in Scotland.
The 53-year-old outlined how meticulous Nuno was when organising a defence and used Jones as a prop to illustrate how hands on he was with details.
‘I did my B Licence with him up in Scotland, with big Nuno, and he was a fantastic coach,’ Ferguson began.
Duncan Ferguson surprised Dave Jones by grabbing the presenter on Monday Night Football
Ferguson moved Jones to illustrate how Nuno Espirito Santo’s hands on approach to coaching
Ferguson surprised Jamie Carragher by dragging Jones around the Sky Sports studio
‘He was that pernickety on the detail, when you were doing your coaching he would move you around.’
Ferguson then proceeded to grab Jones by the shoulders, adding ‘If you were a centre back and stepped to your position, he would say ‘get there, you stand there son’ and moved a surprised Jones.
‘He would do that with every player,’ Ferguson said, with Carragher quick to ask whether he did the same with him given his hard man reputation.
‘Even me, that is what he did. He actually got told off for it because he was putting everyone in position and manhandling them, saying “you get yourself there, move a yard there”.
‘He is strong on the defensive work, you can see from the work he has already done, they are going to be off the ball, they are going to sit in a low block and counter attack if they can.
‘He is a very good defensive coach.’
Jones made light of Ferguson’s hands on approach to explaining his point about Nuno, stating ‘that’s a lifetime ambition being thrown around by Duncan Ferguson’, with the former forward responding ‘sorry about that’, prompting laughter in the studio.
Ferguson’s point about Nuno proved an accurate one as the Hammers produced an improved display under their new boss to earn a 1-1 draw against Everton on Monday.
Ferguson’s point about Nuno proved accurate as West Ham produced an improved display
Sky Sports reflected on Ferguson’s Everton career following Monday night’s action
Ferguson had become an icon at Everton after scoring 72 goals across two spells at the club
Jarrod Bowen cancelled out Everton’s opener from Michael Keane to secure a point for the Hammers, who had only taken three from their opening five matches leading to Graham Potter’s sacking.
Post-match, Sky Sports reflected on Ferguson’s own career and highlighted his status as one of the best aerial threats in the game.
Ferguson scored 72 goals in 270 matches for Everton across two spells at Goodison Park, first between 1994 and 1998 and later between 2000 and 2006.
He also pushed back against his reputation as a hardman, despite having been sent off on nine occasions during his career.
The 53-year-old also confirmed his ambitions to return to management, following interim spells in charge of Everton as well as stints at crisis-hit clubs in Forest Green Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle in recent seasons.
