Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has thanked hospital staff for saving his life in his first public appearance since undergoing an operation following a brain haemorrhage.
The 76-year-old was rushed to hospital in May, less than a week after appearing at Old Trafford for Arsene Wenger’s final visit in charge of Arsenal.
United at the time stated the procedure had gone “very well” and the Scot was released from hospital at the beginning of June to continue his recovery at home.
He has now appeared in a video published by the club, thanking the medical professionals who treated him and the well-wishers who provided words of support.
“Believe me, without those people, who gave me such great care, I would not be sitting here today,” he said.
“So, thank you from me and my family. Thank you very much.
“It is has made me feel so humble has all the messages I’ve had from all over the world, wishing me the best. The good wishes do resonate very, very strongly with me, so thank you for that support you’ve given me.
“Lastly, I’ll be back later in the season to watch the team. In the meantime, all the best to Jose [Mourinho] and the players.”
Ferguson won a 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups and two Champions Leagues in a remarkable 27-year spell in charge, having previously led Aberdeen to three Scottish Premier League triumphs and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
His illness triggered messages of support from across the football world, with past and present United players joining the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, FIFA and UEFA in wishing him a speedy recovery.
Ferguson was made an Inaugural Inductee of the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 in recognition of his impact on the English game as a manager. In 2003, Ferguson became an inaugural recipient of the FA Coaching Diploma, awarded to all coaches who had at least ten years’ experience of being a manager or head coach. He is the Vice-President of the National Football Museum, based in Manchester, and a member of the Executive Committee of the League Managers Association. On 5 November 2011, the Old Trafford North Stand was officially renamed the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand in honour of his 25 years as manager of Manchester United.
In addition to being the only manager to win the top league honours, and the ‘Double’, north and south of the England–Scotland border (winning the Premier League with Manchester United, and the Scottish Premier Division with Aberdeen), he is also the last manager to win the Scottish league championship with a non Old Firm team, achieving this in the 1984–85 season with Aberdeen. He is also the only manager in English football to have managed to finish in the top three league places in 20 consecutive seasons, since the 1991–92season (with a total of 22 consecutive seasons).
Ferguson is the joint-most decorated manager in European football competitions with seven honours, a record he shares with Giovanni Trapattoni and Carlo Ancelotti. Ferguson won the top division title in England a record 13 times, more than twice as many times as the next most successful manager. He is also the first manager in the history of the English league to win three consecutive league titles, which he did twice. Ferguson won 10 manager of the year awards, 27 manager of the month awards and managed the most games in the UEFA Champions League (190). In 2017, Ferguson was named among the 10 most influential coaches since the foundation of UEFA in 1954.