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Sir Alex Ferguson opens up on dementia fears and loss of his wife in candid interview
Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up about his fears over potentially developing dementia, and how he has been trying to keep his mind active since retiring as Manchester United manager in 2013
Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up about his ongoing fears regarding dementia, revealing that his younger brother is now showing signs of the condition.
The iconic Manchester United boss, who secured 13 Premier League crowns, two Champions League victories and numerous other honours, is now 83 and has been away from management for over ten years.
The football legend is now dedicating more time to supporting dementia charities, as the condition affects his only brother Martin. Ferguson also suffered the loss of his cherished wife Lady Cathy in 2023, following 58 years of marriage.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast to mark National Playlist Day, the former United boss discussed his brother's circumstances and the potential implications for his own future.
The legendary Scot explained: "I have a situation myself, with my brother. It's not easy. I have to be in touch with him a lot. He recognises me [but] the memory's not great. But he's not bad. He's not getting any worse, let's put it that way, which is very encouraging.
"It's at the back of my mind all the time. You think, 'I wonder if he's in just now', or if I should give him a phone [call]. I try to do that each day.
"I keep telling him: 'Write things down.' I think he tries to do that, but he forgets a lot of the time. When you get to my age, you do have a little worry about whether your memory is going to stand up.
"I'm 84 in December and there are moments when I forget things. I probably did that 20 years ago, 30 years ago...no-one's blessed with a 100% memory. But when it comes to football, when I was a manager, the memory has always been important.
"Now I do a lot of crosswords, I sing a lot and read. I tend to go into history - the American civil war. I went to a few of the battlegrounds in America, which I really enjoyed."
After losing his wife, Ferguson admitted he spent a lot of time alone at home before deciding to move closer to his family and embark on more global adventures.
He added: "After my wife passed, I was stuck in the house a lot. I moved house, into the country, next door to my son - but it's not good enough just to sit watching TV, so I decided to travel. I went to Saudi [Arabia], Hong Kong and Bahrain.
Ferguson's legendary 26-year tenure at Old Trafford saw him transform Manchester United into the most successful team in English football, winning a staggering 38 major honours. He remains a familiar face at United matches even today, attending the Manchester Derby last Sunday.
In 2024, Ferguson first voiced his concerns about dementia, stating: "Generally my memory is quite good - pray the lord, touch wood it'll stay that way."
Daily Star Sunday
Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up about his fears over potentially developing dementia, and how he has been trying to keep his mind active since retiring as Manchester United manager in 2013
Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up about his ongoing fears regarding dementia, revealing that his younger brother is now showing signs of the condition.
The iconic Manchester United boss, who secured 13 Premier League crowns, two Champions League victories and numerous other honours, is now 83 and has been away from management for over ten years.
The football legend is now dedicating more time to supporting dementia charities, as the condition affects his only brother Martin. Ferguson also suffered the loss of his cherished wife Lady Cathy in 2023, following 58 years of marriage.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast to mark National Playlist Day, the former United boss discussed his brother's circumstances and the potential implications for his own future.
The legendary Scot explained: "I have a situation myself, with my brother. It's not easy. I have to be in touch with him a lot. He recognises me [but] the memory's not great. But he's not bad. He's not getting any worse, let's put it that way, which is very encouraging.
"It's at the back of my mind all the time. You think, 'I wonder if he's in just now', or if I should give him a phone [call]. I try to do that each day.
"I keep telling him: 'Write things down.' I think he tries to do that, but he forgets a lot of the time. When you get to my age, you do have a little worry about whether your memory is going to stand up.
"I'm 84 in December and there are moments when I forget things. I probably did that 20 years ago, 30 years ago...no-one's blessed with a 100% memory. But when it comes to football, when I was a manager, the memory has always been important.
"Now I do a lot of crosswords, I sing a lot and read. I tend to go into history - the American civil war. I went to a few of the battlegrounds in America, which I really enjoyed."
After losing his wife, Ferguson admitted he spent a lot of time alone at home before deciding to move closer to his family and embark on more global adventures.
He added: "After my wife passed, I was stuck in the house a lot. I moved house, into the country, next door to my son - but it's not good enough just to sit watching TV, so I decided to travel. I went to Saudi [Arabia], Hong Kong and Bahrain.
Ferguson's legendary 26-year tenure at Old Trafford saw him transform Manchester United into the most successful team in English football, winning a staggering 38 major honours. He remains a familiar face at United matches even today, attending the Manchester Derby last Sunday.
In 2024, Ferguson first voiced his concerns about dementia, stating: "Generally my memory is quite good - pray the lord, touch wood it'll stay that way."
Daily Star Sunday