Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up about the fear, uncertainty and challenges he experienced while recovering from a life-threatening brain haemorrhage in 2018, revealing how the medical emergency temporarily robbed him of his ability to speak.
The legendary Scottish football manager, who spent 26 years in charge of Manchester United and won 38 trophies during his remarkable tenure, suffered a brain haemorrhage in May 2018. He underwent emergency surgery and began a difficult recovery process that tested him physically and emotionally.
According to a report by BBC Sport on Friday, Ferguson recalled the anxiety he felt when he returned to Old Trafford for the first time following the medical emergency, four months after undergoing surgery.
Despite being one of the most celebrated figures in football history, Ferguson admitted that returning to the stadium where he had enjoyed unprecedented success was an emotional experience.
“I wish I could say I was comfortable. I wasn’t,” Ferguson recalled.
The former Manchester United manager attended the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers alongside his wife, Cathy Ferguson. The couple received a warm reception from supporters, who gave the legendary manager a standing ovation as they took their seats in the directors’ box.
Recalling the emotional moment, Ferguson said his wife was deeply moved by the reception from the fans.
“My wife was with me, and she was nearly crying. When we sat down, she said, ‘That’s fantastic’,” he said.
Sir Alex Ferguson Recalls Losing His Voice After Brain Haemorrhage
Ferguson was 76 years old when he suffered the brain haemorrhage in May 2018, five years after retiring from his managerial position at Manchester United in 2013.
The medical emergency left him facing a challenging recovery, with one of the most frightening experiences being the loss of his ability to speak.
“I had lost my voice; I couldn’t speak,” Ferguson revealed, describing the moment as particularly terrifying.
The former manager also remembered how difficult it was to see his grandsons during his recovery, especially as he struggled to communicate with them.
“I remember my grandsons coming to see me and I had lost my voice,” he said.
Ferguson subsequently began speech therapy, with a therapist introducing a series of exercises designed to help him regain his ability to communicate.
He explained that the exercises involved writing down the names of birds, animals and rivers as part of the rehabilitation process.
“Then they brought in a therapist and she started doing things like asking me to write down the names of birds, names of animals, names of rivers,” he recalled.
“That way my voice came back.”
The rehabilitation process played an important role in Ferguson’s gradual recovery, allowing him to regain his speech following one of the most serious health challenges of his life.
Ferguson Reflects on Life After Manchester United
Now approaching his 85th birthday, Ferguson says he is feeling well despite dealing with some minor injuries.
The former Manchester United manager retired from football management at the end of the 2012/13 season after an extraordinary 26-year spell at Old Trafford.
During his time at the club, Ferguson won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies, cementing his place among the most decorated managers in football history.
His achievements transformed Manchester United into one of the dominant forces in English and European football, while his managerial legacy continues to influence the modern game.
Ferguson has also revisited significant moments from his football career in his new book, Games of My Life, which recounts 21 defining matches from his playing and managerial journey.
The book offers readers a personal account of some of the most memorable occasions in his career, alongside reflections on the experiences that shaped his life in football.
His latest revelations provide a deeply personal insight into the emotional and physical difficulties he faced after suffering a brain haemorrhage, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding his recovery and the importance of rehabilitation and family support.
Despite the challenges, Ferguson’s return to Old Trafford in 2018 marked a significant milestone in his recovery, allowing him to reconnect with the supporters and the club where he built his remarkable managerial legacy.