Sir Alex Ferguson has opened up about the severe 2018 brain hemorrhage that left him with only a 20 percent chance of survival, revealing in a BBC interview that he was terrified and temporarily lost his voice. The former Manchester United manager, who won 38 trophies during his 27-year tenure at Old Trafford, required emergency surgery following the medical emergency and endured an intensive rehabilitation process to regain his ability to speak.
Ferguson faced low survival odds after surgery
The health crisis struck in 2018, forcing the manager into immediate surgery. Medical staff at the time estimated his odds of survival at just 20 percent. Reflecting on the harrowing ordeal years later, Ferguson admitted the full gravity of the situation, stating he was deeply frightened and unable to communicate even with his family.
J’étais terrifié. J’aurais aimé pouvoir dire que j’étais à l’aise. Je ne l’étais pas. J’avais perdu la voix, je ne pouvais plus parler,
Ferguson recounted of the experience, detailing the profound vulnerability of being unable to respond to visits from his grandchildren.
Rebuilding Speech Through Rigorous Therapy
The path back to public life and normal communication required painstaking speech therapy. Ferguson worked closely with a therapist who guided him through elementary linguistic exercises. The rehabilitation regimen involved writing down names of rivers, animals, and birds before attempting to pronounce them aloud.
This methodical phonetic training served as the foundation for his recovery, enabling the manager to gradually rebuild his vocabulary and command of language.
Now approaching his 85th birthday, Ferguson reports that he feels plutôt bien malgré quelques petites blessures
(fairly well despite a few minor injuries). In May last year, Ferguson was again hospitalized just as he was preparing to attend a Manchester United fixture.
During his career in English football, Ferguson secured 13 English championships and two UEFA Champions League trophies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused Sir Alex Ferguson’s medical emergency in 2018?
Ferguson suffered a severe brain hemorrhage that required emergency surgery in 2018, leaving him with a 20 percent survival rate according to medical assessments at the time.
How did Ferguson recover his ability to speak?
He underwent extensive speech therapy, working with a therapist to write down and pronounce categories of words such as animals, birds, and rivers to retrain his voice.
How many trophies did Sir Alex Ferguson win at Manchester United?
During his 27 years in charge of Manchester United, Ferguson secured 38 trophies, including 13 English championships and two Champions League titles.
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