Alex Ferguson recalls recovery from brain haemorrhage in new BBC interview

Sir Alex Ferguson has recalled losing his ability to speak after a brain haemorrhage in May 2018 and feeling anxious before his first subsequent visit to Old Trafford. Speaking to BBC Breakfast in an interview reported by BBC Sport, the former Manchester United manager described the support he received during recovery and revisited pivotal moments from his career ahead of the release of his book, Games of My Life.

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Ferguson underwent emergency surgery aged 76, five years after retiring from management. He told the BBC that being unable to speak when his grandsons visited was frightening. A therapist asked him to write down names of birds, animals and rivers, exercises he associated with the return of his voice. Now approaching his 85th birthday, he said he was feeling generally well despite minor injuries.

His return to United's stadium came four months after the operation, for a Premier League match against Wolves. Ferguson said he had been uncertain about how supporters would receive him and had not felt comfortable beforehand. He and his wife Cathy were given a standing ovation as they took their seats in the directors' box, a reception he remembered as deeply moving for her.

The new book covers 21 matches from his playing and managerial life. Among the turning points discussed in the interview was his time at St Johnstone, when frustration at reserve-team football led him to complete paperwork for a move to Canada. After illness affected the squad, he was selected against Rangers at Ibrox in 1963 and scored a hat-trick, a performance that revived his playing career.

Ferguson also revisited the decision to sell Paul Ince to Inter Milan in 1995 while considering Paul Scholes' emergence. He acknowledged Ince's ability and the difficulty of decisions that supporters opposed. Despite their past disagreements, Ferguson said the two are now friends and remain in contact.

His faith in younger players was another central theme. Ferguson said David Beckham had mistakenly viewed his loan to Preston as a sign that United wanted to move him on. Beckham, Scholes, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs subsequently helped United win the Premier League and FA Cup double in the 1995-96 season. Ferguson credited that generation with bringing both ability and determination to the club.