RismadarVoice Reporters
October 2, 2026
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has reflected on his recovery from the brain haemorrhage he suffered in 2018, describing the period after emergency surgery as frightening and uncertain.
Ferguson suffered the medical emergency in May 2018 and underwent surgery before beginning a lengthy recovery.
Four months later, he returned to Old Trafford to watch Manchester United face Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, receiving a standing ovation from supporters.
Despite having spent more than two decades managing at the stadium, Ferguson said returning after his health crisis was an emotional experience.
“I wish I could say I was comfortable. I wasn’t,” he recalled.
Ferguson attended the match with his wife, Cathy, and said the reception from supporters affected both of them emotionally.
The former United manager also recalled temporarily losing his ability to speak during the early stages of his recovery.
“I had lost my voice; I couldn’t speak. That was a frightening moment,” he said.
Ferguson said a therapist subsequently helped him rebuild his speech through exercises that involved recalling and writing down different words, including names of birds, animals and rivers.
“That way my voice came back,” he said.
Ferguson, who turns 85 later this year, said he is currently feeling well, although he has experienced some minor injuries.
The Scottish football figure has also revisited major moments from his career in his new book, Games of My Life, which examines 21 significant matches from his playing and managerial years.
Ferguson managed Manchester United for 26 years before retiring in 2013.
During his tenure, he won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles and two UEFA Champions League titles, establishing himself as one of the most successful managers in football history.
