Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has spoken publicly about his recovery from a brain haemorrhage, recalling the fear and uncertainty he experienced after undergoing emergency surgery in 2018.

Ferguson suffered the haemorrhage in May 2018 and returned to Old Trafford four months later to watch Manchester United play Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League.

Despite spending 26 years managing United, Ferguson admitted he felt nervous about returning to the stadium. He was accompanied by his wife, Cathy, and received a standing ovation from supporters when they took their seats in the directors’ box.

“I wish I could say I was comfortable. I wasn’t,” Ferguson said, according to BBC Sport, as reported by PUNCH.

“My wife was with me, and she was nearly crying. When we sat down, she said, ‘That’s fantastic,’” he recalled.

Ferguson was 76 when he suffered the haemorrhage, five years after retiring from management. His recovery was gradual, with the early stages proving particularly difficult.

“I had lost my voice; I couldn’t speak,” he said, describing the experience as a frightening moment.

He also recalled visits from his grandsons, who saw him struggling to speak during his recovery.

A therapist later helped him regain his speech through exercises that involved writing down the names of birds, animals and rivers.

“That way my voice came back,” Ferguson said.

Now approaching his 85th birthday, the former Scottish manager says he is feeling well, although he has dealt with some minor injuries.

Ferguson has also revisited his football career in his new book, Games of My Life, which examines 21 defining matches from his playing and managerial career.

During his 26-year tenure at Manchester United, Ferguson won 38 trophies and became one of the most decorated managers in football history.

His latest recollections provide a personal account of both his celebrated football career and the difficult recovery period following his serious health emergency.