'I was terrified' - Sir Alex Ferguson opens up on brain haemorrhage and Man Utd return

· Mirror

Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson has broken his silence on a terrifying experience after emergency surgery in 2018

Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has reflected on a 'frightening' brain haemorrhage that left him without a voice. The 84-year-old had been left terrified after the emergency surgery in 2018 but through therapy.

He eventually returned to Old Trafford four months later and returned to the Theatre of Dreams to a standing ovation. Ferguson, who turns 85 in December, is back feeling at his best with a new book coming out, 'Games of My Life', as he discusses stories of the 21 defining matches in his managerial and playing career.

Sir Alex is using the opportunity to talk about some of the biggest moments in his career, following the emergency surgery in 2018.

He had been at Old Trafford a week before surgery, when he presented Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with a commemorative trophy.

He told BBC Breakfast:

> "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.

> "Then they brought in a therapist and 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."

The 84-year-old feels good within himself, two months shy of his birthday. The Scot is a regular attendee at Old Trafford as he watches the team that he built to dominate English and European football.

Four months after the surgery, Ferguson returned to Old Trafford when the Red Devils took on Wolves. Ferguson standing ovation, leaving wife Cathy in tears.

He said:

> "I wish I could say I was comfortable. I wasn't. My wife was with me, and she was nearly crying. When we sat down, she said 'that's fantastic'."

Ferguson's book follows the trials and tribulations of his managerial career with the highly-successful tactician counting some of the world's best as players he's managed.

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