Sir Alex Ferguson Reveals the Terror He Felt After Brain Haemorrhage
The Manchester United legend recalled the toughest moments of his recovery and admitted how frightened he was after temporarily losing the ability to speak.
Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up again about the severe brain haemorrhage he suffered in 2018, which forced him to undergo emergency surgery. Eight years later, the legendary manager admitted that fear was present from the very beginning.
“I was terrified. I wish I could say I was comfortable. I wasn’t,” he confessed during an interview with BBC Breakfast while recalling the ordeal.
The recovery became one of the biggest challenges of his life. Ferguson, who led Manchester United to dominate English football for more than two decades, suddenly found himself dealing with difficulties that went far beyond the game.
The Moment That Frightened Him Most
One consequence of the operation was particularly difficult for Ferguson: he temporarily lost his voice and could not communicate normally.
“I had lost my voice; I couldn’t speak. That was a frightening moment. I remember my grandsons coming to see me and I had lost my voice,” he recalled.
His recovery began with the help of a therapist, who used simple exercises to gradually help him regain his speech. “She started doing things like asking me to write down the names of birds, names of animals, names of rivers. That way my voice came back,” Ferguson explained.
The Return That Moved His Family
Less than four months after the operation, Ferguson managed to return to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United once again from the directors’ box.
His wife, Cathy, was by his side throughout much of the recovery process and also accompanied him on the emotional return.
“My wife was with me, and she was nearly crying. When we sat down, she said, ‘That’s fantastic,’” the Scot recalled.
Ferguson Looks Back on His Story
The interview comes as Ferguson promotes his new book, Games of My Life, in which he revisits 21 matches that defined different stages of his playing and managerial career.
His legacy in Manchester remains untouched. During his time in charge of United, he won 13 league titles, two Champions League trophies, five FA Cups and four League Cups before retiring in 2013.
But this time, Ferguson was not talking about trophies or famous European nights. His memories centered on something far more personal: the fear of losing his voice, the fight to recover it and the emotion of being able to return to Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Emotional Confession
- Ferguson admitted he was “terrified” after suffering a brain haemorrhage in 2018.
- After surgery, he temporarily lost his voice and needed therapy to regain it.
- Less than four months later, he was able to return to Old Trafford alongside his wife Cathy.
