Sir Alex Ferguson says wife’s family tragedy led to Manchester United retirement

Sir Alex Ferguson says the death of his wife Cathy’s sister was the decisive reason he ended his 27-year reign as Manchester United manager in 2013.

The 84-year-old Scot had not been considering retirement until October 2012, when Cathy’s sister, Bridget, died. Ferguson went on to win his 13th and final Premier League title in May 2013 before bringing his distinguished managerial career at Manchester United to an end.

Cathy, whom Ferguson described as his “mainstay”, lived to the age of 84 before she died in October 2023.

Writing in his new book, Games of My Life, Ferguson said: “I was not thinking about retirement until October 2012, when Bridget, Cathy’s sister, died.”

He added, as quoted by the Daily Mail: “On the surface, and as far as the fans were concerned, I am sure there was nothing to worry about. I was in good health.

“I tried to keep myself fit. I felt I had plenty of energy, although when I was suffering from pain in my hip, I sometimes thought I would never want anyone to see me on the touchline leaning on a stick.

“I was enjoying the club and football, but Bridget’s death changed everything.”

Ferguson said the loss had a profound effect on Cathy because of the closeness of the sisters’ relationship.

“It was a huge shock for Cathy because Bridget had been such an integral part of her life,” he said. “They had the strongest relationship between sisters I have ever seen.”

Ferguson said that, apart from Cathy and their children, nobody knew he had decided to leave Manchester United until former chief executive David Gill visited him one Sunday afternoon in February.

“Except for Cathy and our sons, no one knew about my decision until David Gill, the former Manchester United chief executive, came to see me one Sunday afternoon in February and told me that he had decided to retire as well,” Ferguson said.

He said he kept control of his emotions while informing his coaching staff, players and all the employees at Carrington that he was leaving.

“I managed to control my feelings while telling the coaching staff, the players and everyone at Carrington,” he said. “I only took it in when I returned to my office and closed the door.

“I sat at my desk and cried. I knew then that it was over. I would not take this team to Wembley or to European matches, and I would not send out a team to win a cup or a league.

“After wiping away my tears, I thought it would be better to leave quickly before the news spread.”