Sir Alex Ferguson recalls his 2018 fight to survive

Sir Alex Ferguson has revisited the life-threatening brain haemorrhage that changed his daily life in 2018, describing the fear surrounding an emergency operation after doctors assessed his survival chances at just 20 percent. The former Manchester United manager spoke about the experience in a BBC interview.

The Scottish coach lost his voice and could not speak after the haemorrhage. That left him unable to answer when his grandchildren came to see him, a memory he identified as particularly difficult. Recovery required an extended programme of work with a therapist, who used written prompts including names of birds, animals and rivers to help him practise saying words again.

Ferguson said that process eventually brought his voice back. Now approaching his 85th birthday, he described his condition as generally good despite some minor ailments. He was admitted to hospital again in May, shortly before he was due to attend a Manchester United match.

The episode adds a personal dimension to the career of a manager who spent 27 years at United and won 38 trophies, including 13 English league titles and two Champions League crowns. His account focuses less on those honours than on the rehabilitation that followed the 2018 emergency and enabled him to speak again.