Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken about his recovery from a brain haemorrhage in 2018, describing the fear and uncertainty he experienced after undergoing emergency surgery.
Ferguson suffered the haemorrhage in May 2018, five years after retiring from management following a remarkable 26-year spell in charge of Manchester United. Four months after the medical emergency, he returned to Old Trafford to watch United play Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.
Despite his long association with the stadium and his success at the club, Ferguson admitted that returning to Old Trafford was an emotional and difficult experience. Speaking as reported by BBC Sport, he said: “I wish I could say I was comfortable. I wasn’t.” He attended the match with his wife, Cathy, and received a standing ovation from supporters when they took their seats in the directors’ box.
Ferguson recalled that his wife was moved by the reception, saying she was “nearly crying” before telling him, “that’s fantastic.” The moment came just months after the former manager had undergone surgery and begun what would become a lengthy recovery.
Ferguson was 76 when he suffered the haemorrhage, and he said the early stages of his recovery were particularly challenging. One of the most frightening experiences was losing his ability to speak. “I had lost my voice; I couldn’t speak,” he recalled.
He also remembered visits from his grandsons during that period, when they saw him struggling with his speech. A therapist was later brought in to help with his recovery, using a series of exercises that required Ferguson to write down the names of birds, animals and rivers as part of the process of regaining his voice.
According to Ferguson, the exercises eventually helped him recover his speech. Now approaching his 85th birthday, the former Manchester United boss says he is feeling well, although he is dealing with some minor injuries.
Ferguson has also revisited his football career in his new book, Games of My Life, which focuses on 21 significant matches from his playing and managerial career. During his 26 years at Manchester United, he won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies, making him one of the most successful managers in football history.
His latest reflections provide a personal account of both his extraordinary career at Manchester United and the difficult recovery period that followed one of the most serious medical challenges of his life.
SOURCE: PUNCH
