With each passing season, Lewis Ferguson has methodically worked through the career objectives he set for himself shortly after his professional debut for Hamilton Academical. He established himself as a Scottish Premiership regular before securing a transfer to Aberdeen, where his development accelerated and earned him full international honours with Scotland.
A Career Milestone Overshadowed by One Persistent Record
A transformative move to Serie A side Bologna followed, culminating in his first major trophy last year – the Coppa Italia. At 26 years old, the midfielder's career trajectory suggests there is ample time for further achievements. However, a significant personal statistic looms large ahead of a crucial European fixture.
Ferguson's first opportunity to defeat Celtic came on April 8, 2018, as a substitute in a 2-1 loss at New Douglas Park. In total, wearing the colours of both Hamilton and Aberdeen, the midfielder faced the Glasgow giants on sixteen separate occasions. He has yet to experience victory.
A Personal Motivation for a Team Objective
"Every time I've faced Celtic, they've been strong, they've been really good," Ferguson reflected. "I've faced them a lot of times when I was at Aberdeen when we had a good team. They were always just better than us on the day. It was difficult, but they were such a good side and still are a really good team."
He added, with determination: "It doesn't look too good, 16 times but never won... so tomorrow I'll definitely be looking to change that. It was probably the first game I looked at when the draw came out."
This unwanted record provides a powerful personal incentive as Bologna prepare to host Celtic at the Renato Dall'Ara Stadium in the Europa League. Ferguson has been leveraging his familiarity with the Scottish champions, having consulted with the club's analysts this week. "I know their players obviously better than the players here do," he noted.
Family Ties and Club Loyalties
The match carries an added familial dimension. Ferguson's father, Derek, and his uncle, Barry Ferguson – both former Rangers players – will be watching intently from Scotland. "I don't think my dad wanted to take a flight out and be surrounded by Celtic fans," Ferguson said. While he hasn't discussed the game extensively with his uncle recently, he acknowledged: "I think I know his thoughts on it! I know who he wants to win, that's pretty clear."
Navigating a New Challenge at Bologna
Despite being club captain, Ferguson has recently found himself in an unfamiliar role, coming off the bench in Bologna's last three matches. This period of adjustment has been testing for a player accustomed to being an automatic starter since his Hamilton days.
"It's been a bit of a frustration, probably because I'm not used to it," he admitted. "I'm 26 now and, maybe for the first time in my career, I've not been a regular starter. So, it is a little bit difficult, but you just need to learn to deal with it."
World Cup Ambitions and Personal Growth
This situation arrives at a critical juncture, with a World Cup on the horizon. Ferguson is hopeful his recent spell out of the starting lineup won't affect his standing with Scotland manager Steve Clarke. "I've not had any conversations with him as of yet," he explained. "Obviously when the time comes around for the national team, I'm hoping I'll still be in the gaffer's thoughts."
Missing Euro 2024 through injury has made the prospect of World Cup selection even more significant. "Yeah, massive," Ferguson emphasised. "I missed out on the Euros and it was devastating. So, to have that at the end of the season as a motivation and a focal point, it's something to look forward to."
Reflecting on his Italian adventure, which recently saw him sign a new contract until 2028, Ferguson believes he has grown immensely. "I was still pretty young when I made the move, I was only 22," he said. "Over the past four years, I can say that, first and foremost, I've become a better person and I've definitely become a better footballer. That's in terms of everything – physicality, tactically, technically. I've learned a lot."
As Thursday's match approaches, Ferguson's personal quest to finally overcome Celtic intertwines with Bologna's collective ambition to progress in Europe. For the Scotland international, it represents a chance to rectify a long-standing anomaly in an otherwise flourishing career.
