Sir Alex Ferguson revisits defining matches in new book Games of My Life

Sir Alex Ferguson is promoting his new book, Games of My Life, a 21-match look back at the defining moments of a career that took him from working-class Glasgow to the summit of English football.

Ferguson at a glance

The 84-year-old remains closely connected to Manchester United, regularly returning to Old Trafford more than a decade after stepping down as manager.

His bond with the club was underlined in 2018, when he made an emotional return to the directors’ box fewer than four months after emergency surgery for a serious brain haemorrhage. Ferguson faced an intensive recovery after the operation, which had a major immediate impact on his everyday life.

He has spoken candidly about the fear he felt during the medical emergency. “I was terrified,” Ferguson said, adding that he was not at ease through the ordeal.

One of the most difficult parts of his rehabilitation was temporarily losing his ability to speak. Ferguson recalled the distress of being unable to communicate when his grandsons visited him.

A therapist helped him regain his voice through word exercises, including writing down names of birds, animals and rivers. “That way my voice came back,” he said.

His wife Cathy was central to his recovery and accompanied him for that first post-operation appearance at Old Trafford. Ferguson remembered her becoming emotional as they took their seats, telling him: “That’s fantastic.”

Ferguson transformed United into a dominant force during his reign, collecting 13 top-flight crowns and two Champions League trophies as well as five FA Cups, four League Cups and further international honours.

Games of My Life now offers his reflections on the matches he considers pivotal across his time as a player and manager, tracing the route from Glasgow to one of football’s most decorated careers.