Sir Alex Ferguson admits dementia fears as Man Utd icon opens up in rare interview

Sir Alex Ferguson has again opened up on dementia concerns but has joyfully stated that he will be all right. The legendary former Manchester United manager went on to reveal that Jake LaMotta, the boxer portrayed in Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull, having 106 fights but still living to 95, is what comforts him.

He also said to The Observer: "I worried about that myself because I headed the ball a lot. 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.’”

Ferguson has been without his late wife Cathy for a number of years with the Scot also detailing how she was with him when working and her characteristics that he appreciated.

He said: “Fifty-nine years is a long time. 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.

“She was a great judge of people. Very careful with people who wanted to be friendly with me. She never made it here [to his current house]. We got married on the Saturday morning and I played in the afternoon.”

Just a few years ago, he revealed doing quizzes kept his mind sharp while also admitting that reading helps. He said: "I'm 82, obviously I worry about it. Generally my memory is quite good, pray the lord and touch wood it will stay that way. But I worry about it, 100 per cent. I would be lying if I said anything different.

"I read a lot, I do quizzes a lot and I think that helps. You have those YouTube quizzes, 100 questions, and I think if I don't get to 70 per cent I'm struggling."

Sir Alex has already had some health issues and suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2018 which required emergency surgery. He spoke about that ordeal recently while promoting his upcoming book, 'Games of My Life' where he discusses the 21 defining matches of his legendary career.

Speaking on his recovery, he told BBC Breakfast: "I had lost my voice; I couldn't speak. That was a frightening moment. I remember my grandsons coming to see me and I had lost my voice.

"Then they brought in a therapist and she started doing things like asking me to write down the names of birds, names of animals, names of rivers. That way my voice came back."

He made his triumphant return to Old Trafford four months on from undergoing that operation and despite the huge ovation, admitted he was anxious in the lead up.

"I was terrified, actually," he said: "I wish I could say I was comfortable. I wasn't. My wife was with me, and she was nearly crying. When we sat down, she said 'that's fantastic'."

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