Sir Alex Ferguson recalls fear on first Old Trafford return after surgery
Sir Alex Ferguson says he was “terrified” on his first return to Old Trafford after undergoing emergency brain surgery in 2018, despite the emotional reception he and his late wife Cathy received from Manchester United supporters.
Ferguson recalls difficult Old Trafford return
The former United manager, now 84, suffered a brain haemorrhage when he was 76. Four months after surgery, he returned to the stadium to watch United face Wolves in the Premier League.
Ferguson admitted he did not feel at ease as he prepared to take his place in the directors’ box.
“I was terrified, actually,” he said. “I would like to say I was comfortable, but I wasn’t.”
Ferguson and Cathy, who died in 2023, were met with a standing ovation as they entered. He said the occasion deeply affected his wife.
“My wife was with me and she was almost crying,” Ferguson said. “When we sat down, she said, ‘That’s fantastic.’”
Voice loss added to Ferguson’s fears
Ferguson also described the alarming period after his operation when he was unable to speak. He recalled his grandsons visiting while he had lost his voice.
A therapist helped him begin to recover through simple word-recall exercises, asking him to write the names of birds, animals and rivers.
- Ferguson suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2018.
- He was 76 at the time of the medical emergency.
- His first Old Trafford visit after surgery came four months later.
- He says he is now feeling well, aside from minor physical problems.
“I’m feeling quite good despite small injuries,” Ferguson said.
United legacy remains unmatched
Ferguson had already been retired for five years when he became ill, ending his 26-year reign as Manchester United manager in 2013. He left Old Trafford with 36 major trophies, including 13 Premier League crowns and two Champions League titles.
| Competition | Trophies won under Ferguson |
|---|---|
| Premier League | 13 |
| Champions League | 2 |
| FA Cup | 5 |
| League Cup | 4 |
| European Cup Winners’ Cup | 1 |
New book to revisit defining matches
Ferguson is preparing to release a new book, Games of My Life, centred on the 21 matches he considers the defining fixtures of his career.
The book will revisit moments from a managerial journey that took him from Aberdeen to Manchester United, with his Old Trafford achievements still setting the benchmark in English football.
