Sir Alex Ferguson reveals housebound period after wife’s death, sells home and faces dementia fears

Sir Alex Ferguson, 83, says he became housebound after the death of his wife, Lady Cathy, in October 2023 and subsequently sold their £3.25 million Cheshire mansion to move closer to family. He told the BBC that after Cathy’s passing, he spent long stretches indoors: “After my wife passed, I was stuck in the house a lot.” He noted he eventually moved, buying a country house next door to his son Darren, and said he began traveling to occupy himself, visiting destinations including Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong and Bahrain. Ferguson added that joining a dementia group has helped him cope and given him something to focus on: “Occupy yourself. Dealing with the dementia group has been good for me. It’s something that I enjoy.”

The family home he sold was a Cheshire mansion on which he listed before selling; the sale occurred five months after listing, with Ferguson purchasing a £1.2 million house in an idyllic village next door to Darren. He described Cathy as the bedrock of his career and life, a constant source of stability and encouragement throughout his time at Manchester United and beyond: “My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career, providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement.” Cathy, a Glasgow native and mother of three, died at 84 after nearly 58 years of marriage to Ferguson, who has often credited her with helping him weather personal and professional challenges.

The couple met in Glasgow in the 1960s, and their partnership became a central pillar of Ferguson’s long tenure as United manager, during which he won 13 league titles and transformed the club into a Premier League powerhouse. In a 2021 documentary, Cathy recalled how she first viewed Ferguson and the early days of their relationship; their story highlighted a partnership that endured sectarian tensions in their city and provided stability off the pitch as Ferguson navigated the demands of elite football.

Beyond his personal loss, Ferguson has expressed concern about dementia, a condition that also affects his brother. He described the ongoing effort to stay connected with his brother: “It’s not easy. I have to be in touch with him a lot. He recognises me [but] the memory’s not great.” He acknowledged the emotional toll of aging, saying, “When you get to my age, you do have a little worry about whether your memory is going to stand up. I’m 84 in December and there are moments when I forget things. I probably did that 20 years ago, 30 years ago... no-one’s blessed with a 100 per cent memory. But when it comes to football, when I was a manager, the memory has always been important. Now I do a lot of crosswords, I sing a lot and read.”

In retirement, Ferguson has worked more closely with dementia charities, a cause he has embraced as he navigates his own aging and family health experiences. He has said he stays connected with his brother through regular calls and visits when possible, and he continues to draw on his past experiences in football to keep his mind active. The former United boss has also stressed the importance of routine and social engagement in maintaining well-being, both for himself and for others facing dementia.

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