Everton manager Roberto Martinez believes that Duncan Ferguson will be a "special" coach within the team after the club offered the former Scotland international a permanent role.

The Merseyside outfit announced yesterday that Ferguson has been handed a full-time position after a coaching stint with the youth teams.

"He's developing into a very exciting coach," Everton's official Twitter page quotes Martinez as saying. "He's been working with first team on a part-time basis."

"Duncan has been brilliant with the Under-18s and he is now a perfect person to give direction to our youngsters. The players respect Duncan and I think he can become someone very special within our set-up.

"He's got the desire and hard work needed. The passion about what Duncan does and for the game has not changed."

Ferguson scored 72 goals in 273 appearances over two spells at Goodison Park during his playing career.