Sir Alex Ferguson reveals dementia fears and pays tribute to late wife Cathy at 84

Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up about his fears of developing dementia and his enduring memories of his late wife Cathy, in a wide-ranging interview with The Observer. The 84-year-old former Manchester United manager, who spent 17 years as a professional player in Scotland during the 1950s and 1960s, cited the era’s heavier leather balls as a source of genuine concern.

“I worry about that myself because I headed the ball a lot,” Ferguson said. “All footballers did. Dementia’s a challenge for anyone getting older. You worry about it a lot. I always say to myself: ‘I’m 84 [laughing]. If I get to 85, I’ll be all right.’” He pointed to former boxer Jake LaMotta, who lived to 95, as a source of inspiration.

The subject carries particular weight for Ferguson because his brother Martin is currently living with dementia. “He recognises me, which is great,” Ferguson said. Martin’s condition has led the former United manager to purchase a property in Glasgow, both to stay close to his brother and to tend to Cathy’s memorial.

Ferguson lost Cathy after 59 years of marriage and spoke with evident warmth about her steadying influence throughout his career. “There was a huge religious part of Cathy, and she always regarded herself as a wife and mother. She never involved herself in my life as a manager. Never complained about it, because she knew it was my job. A fantastic wife, and for the boys — brilliant.”

He also recalled her sharp instincts around people. “She was a great judge of people. Very careful with people who wanted to be friendly with me,” he said, adding with characteristic dry wit: “We got married on the Saturday morning and I played in the afternoon.”

Ferguson has previously spoken about using quizzes and reading to keep his mind active. “I read a lot, I do quizzes a lot and I think that helps,” he said on an earlier occasion. “You have those YouTube quizzes, 100 questions, and I think if I don’t get to 70% I’m struggling.”

The interview comes as Ferguson prepares to publish his forthcoming book, Games of My Life. He has faced serious health challenges in recent years, having undergone emergency surgery for a brain haemorrhage in 2018.