Friday 5 September 2008, 10:07
Welcome to the Everton Album, the feature which takes a famous photograph from Everton's past and brings it back to life.
We may have started the feature with a Cup win or a title presentation, a trip to Europe or a Dixie Dean thunderbolt.
Instead we elected to open with one of the Club's more alarming moments.
On Saturday 20 March 2004 Everton travelled to relegation battlers Leicester City. It became a day neither Duncan Ferguson nor Steffen Freund are likely to forget.
Four minutes before half time Ferguson, already on a yellow card, received his marching orders following a tangle with the German (Click here to read the match report).
His response to the dismissal? To grab a horrified Freund by the neck.
Everton went on to draw 1-1, conceding a late Marcus Bent equaliser. The repercussion for Big Dunc was a four-game ban which ruled him out of the season's run-in.
Duncan Ferguson introduces himself to Steffen Freund
"It was a massive game for both clubs," Freund told evertonfc.com. "Leicester City were in the relegation zone, it was one of the last home games of the season and Everton were involved down there too.
"Of course I remember the incident with Duncan. I was shocked in that moment. I'm sure he knows as a player that if you do something like that you will get sent off [Ferguson had already been dismissed]. That's why I couldn't believe it.
"I was close to him and in came a long ball. He was between our defender and me and I tried to win the header. [He saw red and] then he reacted. It wasn't provoked or a bad challenge from my side but what happened, happened. It's forgotten now though.
"You can see in the picture my eyes and how I was feeling. I couldn't believe he was so agressive in that moment.
"He was a great player and he was always dangerous. I can remember I lost 6-1 with Spurs at Newcastle, he scored and he was always dangerous. He had so much quality and scored so many special goals. I have good memories of him as a player.
Nowadays Freund is working towards obtaining a professional coaching licence.
The former Germany international, who already has his Uefa A and B qualifications, hopes one day to return to the Premier League as a manager.
In the meantime he is gaining valuable experience as assistant of the German Under-18s side, having previously worked under Berti Vogts with Nigeria.
It was a role that left him with high opinions of Everton duo Joseph Yobo and Yakubu.
"Joseph is a great player," Freund added. "If he concentrates on the pitch he is one of the best centre halves in England. What a professional. I remember he trained well, worked hard and it was great to work with him.
"The same for Yakubu. I remember one particularly great performance against Ghana in the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations. And in the Premier League he is so dangerous. You can see he's not easy to play against."
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Your Comments
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jim morrison
what a legend would luv 2 have him a fight!
Wednesday 22nd Jul 2009 14:57
Agree with jim?
Jan Keeping
simply a legend dunc a true blue x
Tuesday 14th Apr 2009 19:39
Agree with Jan?
david jack
BIG DUNC LIVES ON IN Marouane Fellaini COME ON BG FELLA
Thursday 15th Jan 2009 17:47
Agree with david?
scott newman
super dunc wish you were still leading the line. true legend...
Tuesday 9th Dec 2008 20:00
Agree with scott?
Matthew Scott
BIG BAD DUNC,, WILL BE BIG AND BADLY MIISSED
Friday 7th Nov 2008 12:43
Agree with Matthew?
carl singleton
dunc wot a legend u wil never be forgotten
Sunday 12th Oct 2008 08:52
Agree with carl?
graham griffiths
cant we re-sign the big fella he could prob still do a good job. he does like to introduce himself remember paul sharner
Monday 8th Sep 2008 08:53
Agree with graham?
Dave Richardson
A sad day for Everton FC and all evertonians the day Fergie hung up his boots. Big man you are a legend and my hero - Linda Rugby Warks
Saturday 6th Sep 2008 20:33
Agree with Dave?
John Hamer
Big Dunk. LEGEND!!!
Saturday 6th Sep 2008 09:29
Agree with John?
steve mcdermott
what spirit he big man had shame he never took up coaching or management would you fancy heading for the dressing room at half time two or three nil down and not havig given 110 percent mmmmmm we here of another fergie in the dressing room becks cut eye for example imagine how u would look after dunc finished with you ! shame come on big man get a licence an come home we would love to come back!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday 6th Sep 2008 04:41
Agree with steve?