To the world of football, Sir Alex Ferguson is the epitome of unwavering strength, the legendary manager whose will dominated English football for decades. Yet, the years following his retirement from Manchester United in 2013 have tested the Scot with profound personal trials far beyond the touchline.
A Fight for Survival: The Brain Haemorrhage
The first immense challenge struck in May 2018. Sir Alex, then 76, suffered a sudden brain haemorrhage at home, requiring emergency, life-saving surgery. His prognosis was dire; medical staff at Salford Royal Hospital estimated his chance of survival upon arrival was a mere 20 per cent.
In his 2021 documentary, 'Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In', he recalled the fragility of that moment. "It was a beautiful day, I remember that," he said. "I wondered how many sunny days I would ever see again." He revealed that of five brain haemorrhage cases that day, three patients died. "You know you are lucky," he acknowledged.
The road to recovery was arduous. Early on, Ferguson feared permanent memory loss after a setback left him struggling to speak. "I was trying to force it out but I couldn't get it out," he explained, describing a moment of helpless tears in front of a doctor. He confessed to feelings of intense "loneliness" and the fear of death during his solitary moments in hospital.
The Loss of a 'Bedrock': Cathy's Passing
After battling back to full health, Sir Alex was confronted with an even deeper personal tragedy. Towards the end of 2023, his wife of 57 years, Lady Cathy, passed away. Ferguson had always described her as the "bedrock" of his life and career, the one person he never answered back to—a stark contrast to his famed 'hairdryer' treatment.
The couple met in 1964 at a typewriter factory and married two years later. Cathy's influence was pivotal, providing stability and even persuading him to reverse his decision to retire from Manchester United back in 2002.
Her death left him devastated. Sir Alex admitted he "struggled to leave the house," consumed by grief. To cope, he travelled extensively, visiting Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Bahrain. Upon returning, he joined a dementia support group and made the significant decision to sell the couple's £3.25 million Cheshire home. He now lives in the village of Goostrey, near Knutsford, next door to his son Darren.
Changing Ties with Manchester United
Despite stepping down as manager, Manchester United remained a constant in Ferguson's life through a paid role as a club ambassador. However, in 2024, as part of wide-ranging cost-cutting measures by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, that position was ended.
Ratcliffe, whose INEOS group bought a 25 per cent stake in United, described a frank conversation with the legend. He explained the club's financial pressures and its inability to continue the £2 million annual arrangement. Ratcliffe said Ferguson was initially "a little bit grumpy" but, after consulting his son, returned three days later to agree to step away, putting the club first.
Ferguson continues to attend matches regularly from the directors' box, maintaining his visible connection to the club he built.
For a man whose identity was forged in authority and relentless success, these recent years have revealed a different dimension: one of vulnerability, humility, and quiet resolve. While football once bent to his will, his greatest victories in this chapter have been fought in private—in surviving against the odds, in enduring profound loss, and in learning to adapt to a life reshaped.
