The 54-year-old Scot has signed a multi-year contract, the Belfast club confirmed on Monday, 19 October. He will be joined at the BetMcLean Oval by assistant manager Gary Bollan, with whom he previously worked at Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Ferguson replaces Declan Devine, who left the position in September. Glentoran compete in the NIFL Premiership, Northern Ireland’s top division, and were third in the table at the time of the appointment.
The new manager brings extensive experience from the English game. At Everton, he worked as an assistant to Carlo Ancelotti and Rafael Benítez and took caretaker charge of the first team on two occasions.
As a player, Ferguson made his name at Everton and Newcastle United before moving into coaching. He progressed from academy work to Everton’s first-team staff under Roberto Martínez in 2014, remaining part of the club’s coaching structure for more than a decade.
Ferguson moved into management in his own right when he took charge of Forest Green Rovers in January 2023. His spell there lasted less than six months, before he later became manager of Inverness Caledonian Thistle. That tenure ended when the Scottish club entered administration.
Bollan brings his own managerial experience to the new set-up. He has managed Airdrieonians and Cowdenbeath and guided Livingston to successive promotions. His previous working relationship with Ferguson at Inverness should help the pair establish their responsibilities quickly.
The appointment gives Ferguson another opportunity to build a team in his own image. Glentoran are among Northern Ireland’s established clubs and will expect their new management team to compete near the top of the division.
The club has not disclosed the financial terms of Ferguson’s agreement, confirming only that it is a multi-year contract. His immediate task will be to settle into the role, work with the existing squad and maintain Glentoran’s position in the league race.