Lewis Ferguson has etched his name in Italian football history after captaining Bologna to their first trophy in 51 years with victory in the Coppa Italia final against AC Milan.
The Scottish midfielder, who joined Bologna from Aberdeen in 2022 for approximately £2 million, led his team to a 1-0 win at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico thanks to Dan Ndoye’s 53rd-minute strike. This historic achievement makes Ferguson the first Scottish player to win the competition since Graeme Souness with Sampdoria in 1985.
The match wasn’t without controversy, as Ferguson found himself at the center of tension after two contentious challenges. The Bologna captain suffered a bloodied nose following a sliding challenge on Rafael Leao, with Milan players and manager Sergio Conceicao demanding a red card. After a VAR review, Ferguson escaped with only a yellow card and later avoided a second booking despite protests from Christian Pulisic.
Bologna’s triumph represents a significant disruption to Italian football’s established order, as they become the first team outside of Juventus, Inter Milan, Napoli, and Lazio to win the Coppa Italia since 2007.
The victory carries additional significance by securing Bologna’s place in next season’s Europa League. However, with just two Serie A games remaining against Fiorentina and Genoa, Ferguson’s team remains only two points behind Juventus in the race for Champions League qualification.
This success marks a personal redemption for Ferguson, who previously experienced cup final disappointment with Aberdeen when they lost to Celtic in the 2018 Scottish League Cup final at Hampden Park.
Ferguson is part of a growing Scottish contingent in Italian football, joining national teammates Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour, who both play for title-contending Napoli. His development since leaving Scotland has been remarkable, establishing himself as a leader in one of Europe’s top leagues.
Bologna’s unexpected cup success continues their impressive season under manager Thiago Motta, with the club enjoying their best campaign in decades while playing an attractive brand of football that has won admirers across Europe.
